May 21, 2013
Slocomb residents are finally back in their homes. Wednesday afternoon, city officials gave the "all clear" for the return. On Tuesday, a fire at the Mathis Farm Supply store forced the evacuation of the entire town.
Some resident were allowed home early Wednesday morning. Everyone else was allowed to return home late Wednesday evening. Most of the 4,200 evacuees were from the area surrounding the supply store. No injuries were reported from the fire.
Scott Adcock, of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, said tests showed that the thick, white smoke billowing from the blaze was not toxic.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but investigators said workers from a lawn care service were at the store and could have sparked it with a cigarette. The precautionary evacuations were ordered because the building contained numerous fertilizer products.
