‘A cruel April Fools joke’: Jack Rogers Tire Pros catches fire in Aiken

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Jack Rogers Tire Pros shop in Aiken was destroyed by a fire early Monday.

Aiken Department of Public Safety dispatchers said the call came in at 2:18 a.m. for the fire at 1724 Richland Ave. East.

We spoke to Capt. Marty Sawyer about what they found.

Sawyer says, “a couple of our officers at headquarters could see the globe of the fire.”

Upon arrival, the fire was about 50% through the roof. Officers say they then called for extra manpower, including volunteers.

Sawyer says there was one power line down, which caused a short delay.

The Aiken Public Safety Department, Beech Island Fire Department, and Graniteville-Vaucluse-Warrenville Fire Department were just some of the crews on scene.

Sawyer says, the building “is a total loss.”

Crews were working to clear the tires with the roof falling on top of them, he said.

We spoke with the owner, James Rogers, who said: “It’s a cruel April Fool’s joke, that’s what I thought it was this morning. That’s my life. It’s all I’ve ever known.”

But as he drove up to the building, he realized what he was seeing was very real.

“It was fully engulfed when I got there,” said Rogers.

The shop had thousands of tires stacked up, even on the second floor.

The shop had been in business since 1975.

“I hope to come back one day and start over. I don’t know I’m 67 years old. I just don’t know,” he said.

Rogers says he is “emotional and devastated for his employees.” He told us he doesn’t know what’s next.

Rogers says he’s grateful no one was hurt and for law enforcement’s response.

“Hopefully the lord will look after us and all my employees and we can go from there,” he said.

Authorities say all four lanes of Richland Avenue from Beaufort Street east up to Old Wagener Road reopened around 8:03 a.m.

Crews said they planned to be there for the majority of the day.

By 6 a.m. officials said the scene was almost clear. And by 6:52 a.m. demolition of the shop began.

North Augusta

On Saturday night, officers responded to a structure fire off Old Aiken Road in North Augusta.

Officers say they arrived to find the structure fully involved. The home had been recently vacated, and there were no injuries, according to authorities.

Beech Island Fire Department and the Belvedere Fire Department also responded to the scene.

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