FarmLinks maintenance shop burns

No injuries were reported when a major fire burned the Toro maintenance facility to the ground at Farmlinks at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Ala., Wednesday.

"We're very fortunate that no one was hurt during the event or fighting the fire," says Erle Fairly, FarmLinks president. "We're very thankful for that."

Though fire inspectors have not named a cause, staff at FarmLinks believes the fire to have been started by lightning, says Fairly.

"We're still in the process of gathering the facts," he says. "We're working with the fire inspectors and insurance. It seems pretty apparent to us that it was caused by lightning."

During the storm early Wednesday morning, a guard was called near that part of the facility by a report of a power outage at roughly 4:30 a.m. He noticed the flames and reported the fire. Though firefighters were on the scene and helped contain the blaze from spreading to other buildings, the maintenance building is a total loss, says Fairly.

"It was just too late," he says.

No amount has been named, but Fairly estimated the loss in a couple millions of dollars. Along with several pieces of maintenance equipment was a collection of 28 years' worth of records and notes kept in the farm manager's office. Some data was stored electronically and is safe, but much has been lost to the flames.

Including the farm manager, seven people held their office in the building. The facility was also a public space for events like the twice-annual Outback campout weekend.

"It's sort of surreal," he says. "We're still somewhat stunned."

Though damages are still being assessed, members of the golf industry community have come together to lend equipment to the wounded group and sometimes just a kind word.

"As people in this industry are, people have been very encouraging and supportive," says Fairly. "There's been no shortage of help and encouragement, and we're very thankful for that. We don't take that lightly."

Photos of the remains of the fire are available on the FarmLinks Facebook page.