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Baker County Family to Rebuild Following Feed Store Fire

 Ken Amaro  Dave Wax     Created: 8/4/2009 4:36:17 PM    Updated: 8/4/2009 10:04:16 PM
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MACCLENNY, FL -- It was the last call they wanted to hear, but it happened Monday night.

"I was in shock," says Patricia Bennett. The family had just been told that their business was on fire.

"It is devastating," says James Bennett.

By the time they arrived, the Feed, Farm and Pet Center was destroyed. In it were some animals: birds, rabbits and hamsters.

"It is all gone," says James Bennett. They scrambled to continue business, but it was not business as usual. What encouraged the family was the community's reaction.

James Bennett says, "We've had people come by and offer to do whatever it takes; if we need them to clean out the building they are ready to do so."

The fire department believes the fire was caused by faulty equipment.

"It looks like an accidental nature," says Macclenny Fire Chief Buddy Dugger.

Dugger says it looks like it was an electrical fire.

"It may have been an aerator or light supply near an aquarium,"says Dugger.

The fire chief says the total loss of building and content is about $700 thousand.

The Bennett family says they will continue to operate out of an adjacent building while they rebuild. They want to continue serving the community they've served for the past 30 years.

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