Dill’s Food City Fire in Royston Ruled Accidental

The State Fire Marshal’s office has ruled the Dill’s Food City fire as accidental.

“Our investigators have ruled this fire as accidental. Electrical causes could not be ruled out,”  Bryce Rawson, Bryce Rawson, Press Secretary and Senior Legislative Liaison for the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King told WLHR News Monday.

The fire broke out at the store around midnight, Saturday morning, Feb 17, according to Royston Fire Chief Matt Elrod who said when he arrived, the store was fully engulfed in flames.

Elrod said at one point, firefighters tried to get inside the store to fight the fire and check if anyone was inside but he said the roof began to collapse and they had to evacuate.

No one was injured and barricades were later erected after the fire was put out to keep the public out while the work to clean up the debris went on.

Store owner Stan Dillworth said plans are in the works to rebuild in the same location.

Three stores on both sides of Dill’s Food City, Savannah Valley Carpets, Tri-County Sports, and El Manzanillo Mexican Restaurant are relocating or closing altogether.

At the time of the fire in February, Dill’s Food City had about 150 employees and Dilworth said none of those who worked at the Royston store would lose their jobs.

Dilworth added that because the Royston store also housed their home office, much of their store records and paperwork were also lost in the fire.

However, he said they are still able to make payroll for every employee without any problem.

WLHR News will continue to follow this ongoing story and bring you the latest information as it becomes available.