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Firefighters from across Duplin County respond to Limestone Road blaze
KENANSVILLE — Firefighters from 17 departments across Duplin County battled a massive commercial fire for over seven hours on Dec. 29 at a multi-unit office building on Limestone Road, formerly the Bell Motor Company, overcoming water shortages and complex building layouts to bring the blaze under control.
Duplin County 911 received the call at approximately 9:28 p.m. for a fire at 149 Limestone Road. Units from the Kenansville Fire Department arrived first to find a large, actively burning structure.
Because of the building’s size and remodeled, multi-occupancy office layout, additional fire departments were dispatched to provide fire suppression, manpower, and water support. Heavy water usage quickly strained the municipal system, prompting the activation of Duplin County Tanker Task Forces 1 and 2 and the establishment of two supplemental water points to protect critical infrastructure, including the Duplin County Jail, ECU Health Duplin Hospital, and local residents.
Firefighters faced significant challenges due to the building’s multi-occupancy layout, which complicated suppression efforts and increased water demand. Local officials noted that the office building had been remodeled to accommodate multiple offices, making the fire difficult to extinguish. Crews operated several sections of 5” Large Diameter Hose at multiple hydrants.
Kenansville Fire Chief Robert Whitman said that, because medical facilities are located in the town, water levels were closely monitored with the Public Works Department. “The town of Kenansville never ran dry,” Whitman said, explaining the Tanker Task Force was called to bring in water from outlying areas as a precaution. He emphasized that water supplies were never in danger.
Crews cleared the scene around 3:17 a.m. The response included responders from 41 fire units, including 17 engines from Kenansville, Sarecta, Warsaw, Oak Wolfe, Beulaville, Calypso, Chinquapin, Pleasant Grove, and Potters Hill; 16 trucks from Kenansville, Sarecta, Warsaw, Oak Wolfe, Albertson, Faison, Greenevers, North East, Pin Hook, Pleasant Grove, Potters Hill, Pricetown, Rose Hill, and Wallace; and 8 special units, including squads, rescue vehicles, tower, and brush units from Kenansville, Sarecta, Oak Wolfe, Calypso, North East, Pleasant Grove, and Potters Hill. These units worked alongside additional support from Duplin County EMS, the Kenansville Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, Duplin County Public Safety, and Kenansville Public Works.
County officials confirmed the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Duplin County Public Safety Fire Marshal’s Division, with assistance from the Kenansville Police Department.
