Fire destroys third vacant business in Hickory this year, firefighters say

A fire destroyed an office area for an old shipping company early Monday morning in Hickory. It’s the third fire in the area involving vacant businesses this year in northeast Hickory.

Firefighters were at the scene for more than six hours putting out hot spots and putting foam on the building.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty learned all three fires this year didn’t have power running to the building, but when firefighters got to them, most of the buildings were on fire.

In April, a fire destroyed a vacant furniture plant a few blocks away and another fire in late February, where another old furniture plant was also destroyed by flames in northeast Hickory.

George Earlington, the owner of the property that was destroyed Monday, said he had plans to tear down the old office area to bring in more manufacturing to the property.

“I told some guys that were here that we were going to tear this building down,” he said.

ALSO READ: Fire destroys home, spreads to neighbors in Burke County, firefighters say

Earlington said he had asked people living in the building to move out by Monday because it was scheduled to be torn down, only to get a call that it was on fire.

“What we’re trying to do here is bring more jobs for everybody. So give us a chance to get this place cleaned up so we can turn this into a industrial area,” he said.

Firefighters said all three fires remain under investigation, and officials are looking into whether the fires are connected.

The property owner said he plans on keeping a close eye on the property going forward.

(WATCH BELOW: VIDEO: Paramedic gives cat oxygen after house fire, saving its life)