Fire Ruins Bogart Office Building

A fire Saturday evening in Bogart gutted an office building at Resource Valley Office Park on Jennings Mill Road that housed Home Instead Senior Care in Suite 1000 A and Ameriprise Financial in Suite 1000 B.

said the fire department was called at 7:21 p.m., but by the time three stations and about 35 volunteer firefighters responded, the fire was fully involved.  It took nearly 30 minutes to get the fire under control, he said. 

Firemen were still dousing the building around 10 p.m., hitting hot spots and making sure they were put out.

“The fire got a good head start because the building was so isolated, being that it was a weekend night,” Thaxton said. No one was inside at the time.

Thaxton said the building did not have a fire alarm notification system and a witness called 911 to report the flames.

Authorities believe the fire started on the second floor of Suite 1000 B, burning through the second floor attic to Suite 1000 A, Thaxton said.

Flames destroyed the entire second floor and attic and burned the roof on the backside.  The first floor was damaged by smoke, heat, and water, he said.

Computers and other contents were recovered, but may not be salvageable, Thaxton added.

No preliminary cause of the fire was determined, and there are no indicators of arson at this point, Thaxton said.  Georgia's Fire Marshal’s Office will be contacted to investigate, which is standard procedure for any structure fire, he said.

Bob Watkins, financial advisor and franchise owner of Ameriprise Financial, said he was in Atlanta when he heard the news.

“It’s certainly going to be an inconvenience, but Ameriprise is technologically advanced and I expect minimal disruption,” Watkins said. “Monday is a holiday, and we will be up and running by Tuesday.”

Watkins said clients can rest easy because all information has been backed up and new computers and phones are already on the way thanks to Ameriprise’s 24-hour team that handles disasters. He plans to relocate temporarily and then rebuild in the current location, where the business has been for 10 years.  There are six employees, including Watkins and his wife, Alicia.

“We prepare on a regular basis for disaster.  We ask ourselves, ‘What do we need to do if our building were to burn down?’ and we put systems and processes in place," he said.  "It’s not fun, but we’re ready."

Watkins said he did lose items of sentimental value, including awards, photos, diplomas, and art work.

Home Instead Senior Care Office Manager Alicia Shelton also lost pictures and personal items in the fire.  She and Recruiting Coordinator Beth Segars are two of three employees who worked out of the franchise’s office. 

The women had a chance to enter the building and assess the damage.

“It’s totaled,” Segars said. “There is excessive water damage all over the first floor.”

Shelton said Home Instead also backed up their computers, so no important information was lost and clients will not be affected.

“We have 42 caregivers that go into homes and provide personal care and transportation for 40 clients,” Shelton said.  “That won’t be interrupted.”