02/06/04 — Potters Wheel fire

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Potters Wheel fire

By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on February 6, 2004 2:03 PM

MOUNT OLIVE -- Fire destroyed a pallet plant at a drug rehabilitation center near Summerlin's Crossroad in Duplin County Thursday night.

One narrow path giving access to the Potter's Wheel eight miles east of Mount Olive slowed the seven fire departments that showed up to fight the fire and keep it from spreading to nearby mobile homes, said Fire Marshal Jimmy Pate. They had to relay the water, he said.

The clients at the rehab center made pallets in the shop, said Pate, who was investigating the origin and cause of the fire this morning.

Pate said the fire was probably caused by a short in an electric motor. Damage was estimated at $450,000. The fire started at 6:30 p.m.