An early morning fire this past Saturday swept through Diboll's Big Tin Barn and within a 2-hour period, all that remained of the massive building was smoldering timbers and twisted metal beams.
The Diboll Volunteer Fire Department (DVFD) received a call at approximately 7 a.m. Saturday, January 20 to the structure located on Hwy. 59, just north of the city, to find the store completely engulfed in flames. DVFD chief Gary Jones said all they could do was contain the fire and keep it from spreading to neighboring structures and property.
Volunteer departments from Hudson, Fuller Springs and Corrigan were called to assist at the three-alarm fire that sent huge plumes of black smoke into the overcast skies.
The 42-year-old hardware and building materials store, that had supplied materials all across East Texas for years, is not only a loss for the owner but the community as well. Originally known as Great Texas Lumber, began operation in downtown Diboll (the site now the home of East Texas Printing) and was owned by Temple Industries. The business was relocated to its new building in 1965 and was later named The Big Tin Barn. It had changed ownership several times but is currently owned by Mr. Rufus Duncan Jr. of Lufkin.
Several buildings, located behind the main building, were untouched by the flames.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and the investigation continues. There were no injures reported.
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