Businesses destroyed in massive fire at historic Oxford building

A jewelry store and spa were completely destroyed Monday in a massive fire at a historic building in downtown Oxford.

Sky 5 flew overhead before 10 a.m., where crews were battling thick smoke billowing from the roof and large flames shooting into the sky from a two-story brick building on Williamsboro Street at Main Street.

A clerk at the Granville County Courthouse said flames from the fire were visible from the courthouse windows.

The building was home to two businesses -- The Healing Haven, a spa, and Farrar’s Jewelers, which opened earlier this year.

"A lot of my clients reached out to make sure I was okay," said Amanda Wright, an esthetician who owns The Healing Haven. "It's been very overwhelming. I honestly have no idea what's happened ... I don't even know if I can salvage anything. It looks like everything's gone."

Wright said she was thrilled to land the space downtown a few years ago.

"I saw there was a 'for rent' sign in the window, and I called ... it was literally the best decision I've ever made," she said. "I love Oxford. I honestly don't even advertise. It's all word of mouth ... these people in Oxford are so good to me."

Wright is thankful for her community's support as she heals and makes plans.

"This is my bread and butter," she said. "It's a little hard right now, because I don't even know what I have anymore. I just see that my baby's gone. That's all I see."

Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent told WRAL News the town will find a temporary home for the businesses so they can remain open during the important holiday season.

"It's a huge tragedy for the tenants in the building and the building owner," Sergent said. "This was the building they owned ... she and her husband started their insurance business here and ran it for a long time. It's a historic building. It had a lot of memories."

Sergent vowed to help Wright and the owner of the jewelry story, Joe Farrar.

"We've got two businesses and a building owner facing incredible tragedy," Sergent said. "We want them to prevail, and we as a city want to rally around them. Whatever you can salvage, we will find you a place to be what you are meant to be during this season."

Farrar had only occupied the building since April.

"I got a phone call from one of the nearby business owners, and they said the business beside me was on fire," he said. "When I came back, the whole place was on fire."

Some of Farrar's inventory was destroyed, but much of it was in a safe and protected from the flames.

"I'm just trying to take this in," he said. "It's unbelievable, at the worst time possible too, because of the Christmas season. The majority of the jewelry business is at Christmastime ... We're going to look for a new building. We're going to try to open before Christmas if we can."

Flames from the fire were massive, and smoke billowed into the air. The fire was still going strong at 10:15 a.m., and video from Sky 5 showed the roof caved in. Firefighters were using a ladder to tackle the fire inside the brick building from all angles.

At noon, firefighters were still searching the debris for hot spots.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.