LAURINBURG – A fire at a Laurinburg farm equipment dealer earlier Thursday morning may have been caused by an electrical problem, an official at the business said.

Laurinburg police got an alarm call from Southeast Farm Equipment at 4:09 a.m., according to Patrol Capt. Terry Chavis.

Firefighters arrived to find a portion of the building and its equipment on fire. The business is located off U.S. 401.

Charles Liles, Southeast president, said the blaze may have been started by an electrical problem.

“The fire was created in some storage tanks that we use to store bulk oil,” Liles said. “We’ve got an electrical pump on one of those tanks that apparently shorted out.”

Fire officials could not be reached for an incident report.

According to Liles, the fire caused approximately $26,000 in damage to four 2,500-gallon oil tanks, an electric oil pump and two 55-gallon oil drums. The business also had damage to a roof and roofing beams.

The business, at 16220 Joy St., was open for business this morning.

Southeast is an official John Deere dealer that sells and services large farm equipment like tractors, front end loaders and mowers.

Oil storage tanks and roof beams received the majority of the damage from an early morning fire at Southeast Farm Equipment.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_AFire.jpgOil storage tanks and roof beams received the majority of the damage from an early morning fire at Southeast Farm Equipment.

By Beth Lawrence

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Reach Beth Lawrence 910-506-3169