Photo Credit: WRGA Radio
As investigators continue working to determine what caused Monday’s fire at the Historic Floyd County Courthouse, officials are releasing new details about the emergency response and the damage left behind.
Authorities say the first call came in at 2:12 p.m. Monday. Rome-Floyd County Fire Department Chief of Operations Clete Bonney was the first to arrive and found heavy fire already burning in the attic. Bonney said there was immediate concern that the flames could spread to nearby buildings along Broad Street, prompting a fast and aggressive response from firefighters.
Crews remained on the scene throughout the night and into early Tuesday, using drones to help locate hot spots and monitor the fire area. County officials say the courthouse housed the offices and functions of the Tax Commissioner, Tax Assessor, and Tag Office, all of which were displaced by the blaze.
Floyd County leaders hope to reopen those operations at a temporary location inside the joint law enforcement center as early as Wednesday. However, the county is still waiting on structural engineers to determine whether the area surrounding the courthouse is safe to reopen.
The courthouse, which was built in 1892, was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire using funds from SPLOST and the American Rescue Plan. Floyd County Manager Jamie McCord said it is still too early to know whether the historic building can be saved or if demolition will ultimately be necessary, though he acknowledged saving the structure appears to be a major challenge.
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