Wind-Driven Fire Damages Georgia Auto Dealership

CUMMING, Ga. (CummingPatch.com) – A raging fire destroyed U.S. Auto Sales on Atlanta Road (Highway 9) in Cumming Sunday afternoon, producing a cloud of black smoke that could be seen across Georgia 400 between exits 14 and 15.

No one was injured in the fire, according to Battalion Chief Jimmy Hildebrand of the Forsyth County Fire Department. It is unknown when the fire was first reported, but Cumming Patch was on the scene shortly after 1 p.m. At that time flames were consuming the structure and when firefighters had the blaze under control, at least 14 vehicles were destroyed.

Hildebrand told Cumming Patch the owner of the used car dealership has been notified, but the cause of the fire is unknown and currently under investigation.

Firefighters from Gwinnett, Alpharetta and Cherokee were on the scene working the blaze. Members of Forsyth County Fire were attending the funeral of Mark Aycock, 42, a veteran of the FCFD who died last week after losing his battle with cancer.

According to Capt. Jason Shivers of the FCFD, the county is being covered by neighboring fire departments as a courtesy protocol when one department attends the funeral of a fallen firefighter as in the case of Forsyth County Fire on Sunday.

“All of our stations are being covered by neighboring departments,” said Shivers. “Before we pulled any of our units out of service we had other departments in place.”