A massive fire destroyed the Devers Food Mart early Saturday morning, Aug. 8, drawing firefighters from seven counties as crews worked for hours to bring the blaze under control.
The fire broke out at the business at 107 US 90 in Devers. According to Devers Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Justin Gartner, firefighters arrived around 4 a.m. to find the commercial building fully engulfed in flames.
As of 8 a.m., firefighters were still battling the blaze, with conditions inside the heavily damaged building making their efforts difficult.
During the fire, the building’s tin roof collapsed into the structure, limiting firefighters’ ability to reach burning materials underneath.
The response has drawn firefighters from seven counties — Liberty, Hardin, Chambers, Jefferson, Montgomery, Harris and Polk.
Access to the building presented another significant challenge during the early stages of the fire.
Batson Volunteer Fire Department Fire Capt. Sam Lewis said the building was heavily secured. At the rear of the business, firefighters encountered a metal bar on the inside of the exterior door. After cutting through it, they faced another interior door followed by a third steel door before they were finally able to gain entry.
The front doors also were barred, further complicating firefighters’ efforts to get inside.
The size and intensity of the fire required a significant amount of water. After drawing as much water as possible from the public water supply, firefighters transitioned to pulling water from a nearby drainage canal to continue their attack on the blaze.
Despite the intensity of the fire, no other businesses were threatened. Lewis said firefighters protected a vehicle that was in danger from the flames and also protected a gas pump.
Liberty County Fire Marshal Nathan Green was also on scene to assist with the investigation into the fire. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. Liberty County sheriff’s deputies are assisting with traffic control.
Firefighters remained on the scene Saturday morning as they continued working to extinguish the remaining fire and gain access to areas underneath the collapsed roof.