The fire was reported about 6:45 p.m. at La Esmeralda III, which has been known as Doug's Place in the past, located at 714 E. Atkins St. It appeared to cause heavy damage to the building, but communications officials said late Sunday that no injuries had resulted.
Mary Ann Tate, who was working at a security checkpoint at the front entrance of the Wayne Farms plant nearby Sunday, might have been the first person to spot the fire.
"I thought it was dust at first," Tate said of the thick cloud of grayish-brown smoke emitting from the store. Tate said she then heard a roar as flames spouted from the structure, which sounded "kind of like an explosion."
Members of the Dobson Fire Department subsequently were joined by firefighters from the Central Surry, White Plains, South Surry and Skull Camp volunteer units. The fire personnel worked feverishly at the scene, constantly pumping water into the interior of the store building in an effort to quench the flames, which seemed to flare up over and over.
The store was closed at the time, according to Tate, who said that workers from Wayne Farms frequently went there to buy soft drinks and other items.
A residence is located behind the business, she said, but it was not known Sunday if anyone was there when the blaze began.
Fire officials were still on the scene late Sunday and unavailable for further details on the incident. The store's owner was identified as Hermilo Urauiza, who could not be reached for comment.
Sunday's blaze on East Atkins Street drew a large crowd of onlookers.
The incident forced officials to close down East Atkins Street to through traffic while the firemen fought the blaze. That route, home to several major commercial properties, is one of Dobson's busiest.
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