A major fire broke out overnight at Maurice’s Piggie Park BBQ’s distribution center in West Columbia, South Carolina, prompting a large-scale response from area fire departments.
The blaze ignited in the 1600 block of Charleston Highway, not far from Exit 113 on Interstate 26 and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. This facility serves as the distribution hub for the iconic Midlands BBQ chain, which has been a fixture in the area since 1953, complete with its well-known 75-foot BBQ sign towering over the neighborhood.
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, the City of Cayce Fire Department reported the incident at Maurice’s. The West Columbia Fire Department led firefighting efforts, with flames visibly reaching skyward as they tore through the building’s roof. Firefighters from the Cayce Fire Department, Lexington County Fire Service, Columbia Fire Department, and Irmo Fire District joined forces to contain the blaze.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported, according to an update from the Cayce Fire Department at the scene. By 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, crews had managed to get the fire under control, although they were still present on-site. Officials have not yet released information on the fire’s cause, and it remains unclear if foul play is suspected.
Details on the extent of the damage and whether the distribution center suffered a total loss are still forthcoming. However, the impact of this fire could potentially disrupt operations at Maurice’s other eight locations across Columbia and Lexington, as these restaurants depend on the distribution center for their supplies.
The fire departments urged residents to avoid the area overnight. As of 7 a.m. Sunday, all roads except Middleton Street had reopened.
This is a developing story; stay tuned to CCNews Network for the latest updates.