An early morning fire destroyed a portion of the Pendergrass Flea Market on Sunday, according to firefighters.
One of eight wings at the 250,000 square-foot indoor flea market collapsed during the blaze, which required a response from four fire departments in Jackson County.
“Once we got on the scene, there were flames coming out of the roof,” said Darrell Chaisson, assistant chief of the Jefferson Fire Department.
The Pendergrass Flea Market is located on U.S. 129 in the Jefferson city limits and bills itself as the largest flea market in Georgia. It includes more than 2.5 miles of storefronts with more than 500 booths and is open on the weekends, according to its website.
A fire destroyed one of eight wings at the Pendergrass Flea Market early Sunday morning. Photo provided by the Jefferson Fire Department
Portion of Pendergrass Flea Market destroyed by fire
The fire occurred on the 3rd and 4th East Avenues, according to the flea market’s website. Concerned about security, the flea market was closed on Sunday, but will reopen next weekend. The facility is slated to open on Monday for vendors.
Chaisson said a passerby reported the fire just before 1 a.m. on Sunday. The fire was limited to one wing of the building, where fire doors automatically closed and contained the blaze.
That wing totals an estimated 20,000 square feet and is a complete loss, due to fire damage, he said. The Pendergrass Flea Market is a steel building.
“Once it gets hot to a certain temperature, it starts to collapse like a pancake,” Chaisson said.
There is no cause of the fire and no reason to believe at this time that it is suspicious, he said on Sunday afternoon. The state fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the blaze. There were also no injuries.
About 80 vendors inside that portion of the flea market were affected by the blaze, Chaisson said. Firefighters spent about five hours on the scene battling the blaze and aftermath.
On Sunday, Jefferson police blocked access to the facility and many of those who had planned to visit the flea market were seen congregating at a nearby QT gas station.
Firefighters from the Jefferson, West Jackson, North Jackson and Jackson County Correctional Institute fire departments responded to the scene.
Chaisson said a passerby reported the fire just before 1 a.m. on Sunday. The fire was limited to one wing of the building, where fire doors automatically closed and contained the blaze.
That wing totals an estimated 20,000 square feet and is a complete loss, due to fire damage, he said. The Pendergrass Flea Market is a steel building.
“Once it gets hot to a certain temperature, it starts to collapse like a pancake,” Chaisson said.
There is no cause of the fire and no reason to believe at this time that it is suspicious, he said on Sunday afternoon. The state fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the blaze. There were also no injuries.
About 80 vendors inside that portion of the flea market were affected by the blaze, Chaisson said. Firefighters spent about five hours on the scene battling the blaze and aftermath.
On Sunday, Jefferson police blocked access to the facility and many of those who had planned to visit the flea market were seen congregating at a nearby QT gas station.
Firefighters from the Jefferson, West Jackson, North Jackson and Jackson County Correctional Institute fire departments responded to the scene.
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