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RAMSEUR — While the exact cause of a fire at May Furniture in Ramseur Tuesday morning remains a mystery, officials have determined the origin of the fire.
According to Randolph County Fire Marshal Erik Beard, investigators with the Randolph County Fire Marshal’s Office — with assistance from the NC Office of State Fire Marshal — have determined the origin of the fire to be in the area of a trailer adjacent to the building containing wood dust and chips.
Most likely, officials suspect, the result of a spark created during the wood chipping process caused the fire.
Beard also reported that the fire damage, which was contained to one-third of the building due to the 2,000-square-foot structure having several fire walls, caused estimated damage in excess of $2 million.
May Furniture has indicated that it plans to rebuild.
Firefighters responded to the furniture wholesaler and manufacturer, located at 447 Reed Creek Road, Ramseur, after a call came in from a passerby reporting the blaze shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday.
Though the fire occurred in Franklinville Fire Department’s district, crews from Eastside, Staley, Liberty, Climax, Ramseur, Asheboro, Siler City, and Westside fire departments all responded to assist.
“The fire departments all did an excellent job,” Beard said, noting that it took firefighters around five hours to bring the fire under control.
According to Beard, May Furniture has approximately 210 employees and furniture is manufactured at the business. Much of the total monetary loss likely stems from product lost in the fire.
