2-alarm fire guts 70-year-old Conover lumber business

CONOVER, N.C. — A raging fire in Catawba County caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to a business that has been open for nearly 70 years.

IMAGES: 2-alarm fire at Conover lumber yard

Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty saw fire investigators go through the rubble at Conover Lumber after the Tuesday morning fire.

The fire lit up the sky south of the downtown area in Conover.

Firefighters said they saw flames that broke through the roof inside the planer department at Conover Lumber.

Workers in the building prepare wood for furniture companies across the foothills.

"(It's) just shocking," owner Tim Lawing said. "Unreal. (I) can't believe something like this could happen."

By the time Lawing arrived, much of the building was gone.

The business has been in his family for seven decades.

The fire remains under investigation, but fire officials believe it was likely accidental.

Tim Lawing's brother, Rodney Lawing, said he wants the company's 18 employees to know that Conover Lumber will come back.

"So many emotions going on," Rodney Lawing said. "I just know (we've) got to move forward. That's all I'm trying to think about. What's the next step? We're going to get back up. That's all we know."

Fire officials plan to review surveillance video in their investigation.