COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WTVF) — Owners of Columbia Farm Supply said they are “devastated, heartbroken and still in shock” after a massive overnight fire destroyed the longtime Maury County business.
Firefighters were called to Columbia Farm Supply, located at 170 Bear Creek Pike, shortly after 12:40 a.m. Friday after reports of a commercial structure fire.
When crews arrived, Columbia Fire & Rescue said firefighters encountered heavy flames throughout the building. Officials said the fire intensified within minutes, forcing crews to transition to a defensive firefighting strategy because of the advanced fire conditions.
Firefighters spent hours battling the flames, protecting nearby buildings and extinguishing hotspots throughout the property.
No civilians or firefighters were injured, according to officials.
In a Facebook post Friday, the owners of Columbia Farm Supply thanked firefighters and first responders who worked through the night to battle the fire.
“Today we suffered the unimaginable,” the business wrote. “We are devastated, heartbroken and still in shock of what has happened.”
The family-owned business said no employees or managers were inside the store when the fire started.
Columbia Farm Supply has served Maury County for over two decades, offering feed, fencing, tools and other farm supplies. The business was preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary later this year.
Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt said she and her husband had been customers since the store first opened.
“They have been an integral part of our lives for 25 years and we hope they will build back and keep on serving our community so well,” Butt wrote in a social media post Friday.
The business also shared concern for its four store cats, which owners described as part of the family and mascots for the store.
“Now to answer the burning question about the cats,” the business wrote. “As many know we had 4 store cats who were like family to us. They were thought of as our mascots.”
Owners said the cats had not yet been located as of Friday, though firefighters and neighbors reported seeing cats running from the store during the fire.
The business said employees and neighbors have been searching for the cats and have placed food in the area where they were last seen.
“We know that our babies are probably terrified from what they’ve experienced,” the post said.
The owners asked anyone who sees the cats to contact Columbia Farm Supply through Facebook Messenger.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Columbia Fire Marshal’s Office with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Columbia Fire & Rescue thanked multiple agencies that assisted during the response, including the Maury County Sheriff’s Office, Maury County Fire Department, Spring Hill Fire Department, Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, Maury Regional EMS, Columbia Power & Water Systems and the TBI.
A GoFundMe has also been created to support Columbia Farm Supply after the devastating fire. Organizers said donations will help support the owners, employees and their families as recovery efforts begin.
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