FIRE DESTROYS DILL’S FOOD CITY IN ROYSTON

An Inspector with the State Fire Marshal’s office is expected back in Royston next week to continue his investigation into the cause of the fire that destroyed Dill’s Food City.

The fire broke out at the store around midnight Friday night 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.

He said they determined that no one was inside the store when it caught fire and there were no injuries, but Elrod said one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and is OK.

Saturday morning, water tanker trucks from the Royston, Franklin Springs, and Bold Springs Fire Departments continued to shuttle water back and forth from a fire hydrant at Franklin Springs City Hall to the scene to keep water flowing for Franklin Springs firefighters who were on a ladder truck spraying water back and forth across the smoldering rubble.

By Saturday afternoon, an inspector with the State Fire Marshal’s office surveyed the damage along with Chief Elrod and Assistant Fire Chief Jon Lorentson.

Lorentson said it would be some days before they will have a cause.

Meantime, barricades wrapped in yellow tape now stand in front of the smoldering rubble.

Lorentson said they are asking the public to report any signs of fire restarting.

Lorentson said stores on both sides of Dill’s sustained smoke damage but did not burn.

In business for three generations, the Dilworth family’s effort to bring a quality grocery store experience to citizens began in 1935 with C.D. Dilworth who built a 500-square-foot wood slat structure in rural Red Hill.

More than 83 years later, Dill’s Food City had grown to more than 150 employees with a recently expanded and remodeled grocery store in Lavonia.

On their Facebook page, the Dillworths issued a statement thanking firefighters, first responders, and the community for their efforts and support.

“We are extremely grateful for the firefighters and first responders who worked tirelessly to control the fire. We also want to thank our dedicated city and community leaders for their assistance and support. The outpouring of loyalty and concern from our community has humbled us. While we are heartbroken, we are focusing on how lucky we are that no one was injured. We are asking for prayers for our dedicated Dill’s team members as we navigate through this difficult time. We invite you to visit our Lavonia location and look forward to continue serving our wonderful community throughout our 88th year.”
– The Dilworth Family

WLHR News will continue to bring you updates on this story as they become available.