SLED is investigating the fire Infinite Scroll Enabled GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTSThe latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.Your Email AddressPrivacy Notice BELTON, S.C. —A Belton business owner is cleaning up after a fire at his business on Sunday morning.Ronnie Tinsley, owner of Ronnie Tinsley's Towing & Automotive, said h...
SLED is investigating the fire
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BELTON, S.C. —
A Belton business owner is cleaning up after a fire at his business on Sunday morning.
Ronnie Tinsley, owner of Ronnie Tinsley's Towing & Automotive, said he got a call about the fire around 6 a.m. Sunday.
"My thought in my head, it was a car on fire in the fence or something on one of these rigs, you never know," said Tinsley. "I had no idea the shop was on fire until I got really close."
Tinsley said his shop is a total loss.
"We are down right now but we're gonna come back, trust me," said Tinsley.
He said nearly all of the trucks, tools and lifts in the shop are gone, including a truck that was irreplaceable. He said it belonged to someone close to him who passed away.
“The wrecker and the pickup truck was all that was on my mind," said Tinsley. "Both of them are pretty much irreplaceable. And I had a toolbox that belonged to him, it’s gone. That’s what hurts the worst about everything.”
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Tinsley thanked the Belton Fire Department and other agencies who responded to his shop Sunday.
"Anderson County, every fire department that showed up out here, I want to say a special thanks to them," said Tinsley. "Highway Patrol came out here, Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Belton City, Chedder Fire Department, Belton City Fire Department, Honea Path Fire Department, I want to thank every one of them because they tried their best to save this stuff and we are able to salvage one vehicle."
SLED confirmed its Arson Unit responded to the scene. SLED said its investigation is active and ongoing.
Tinsley said he also has a shop in Williamston and plans to rebuild his shop in Belton.