ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A fire Friday did extensive damage to the historic Georgia Theatre, an Athens landmark that has been the center of the town's music scene and featured bands REM and the B-52s, fire chief I.B. George said.
No one was in the building when fire started.
"It appeared to have started on the second floor and broke through the roof shortly thereafter," George said. "We're in defensive mode now. It's hard to say if they'll be able to rebuild. There is at least going to be extensive damage."
Athens-Clarke County Emergency Management coordinator Chuck Gulley said the fire was contained but that the roof of the building had collapsed.
"It's a sad day for downtown Athens," said Gulley. "It's an iconic landmark."
Gulley said the first firefighters who arrived reported heavy flames in the building and called for backup.
About 50 firefighters responded, and had the flames contained in an hour, Gulley said.
The cause of the fire had not been determined.
The theatre has hosted concerts by other popular Georgia bands and performers such as Widespread Panic, Sugarland, Jupiter Coyote, the Zac Brown Band, Col. Bruce Hampton, Blueground Undergrass and the Dereck Trucks Band.
Athens-based Perpetual Groove was scheduled to play Friday night.
Former Athens Mayor Doc Eldridge said he saw a huge plume of black smoke when he arrived at his nearby office at 7:10 a.m.
"It's definitely a piece of Athens history," Eldridge said. "Since I was a child, we went there to see pictures and it's been a music venue since the 1970s."
The Athens Police Department is asking citizens to stay out of the downtown business district until the fire is contained.
State News
Related Photos
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Firefighters work to extinguish blaze
June 19, 2009
Fire erupts at Georgia Theatre in Athens
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