‘We will be back’: ODPS battles weekend blazes, including fire at community store

Hunter’s Grocery, formerly Hutto’s Grocery Store, has withstood hurricanes and floods over the past six decades. It has remained open, continuing to serve to residents in the community.

A Sunday morning electrical fire resulted in the closure of the store, but its new owners say they will persevere.

“It as an accident and we will be back,” said Hunter McIntosh, who runs the store. She said the plans are to “absolutely” reopen the store after a remodel. The store will be closed until further notice.

McIntosh runs the store owned by her father, Doug.

William Jefferson Hutto founded W.J. Hutto Grocery in 1952.

Hutto continued to operate the store until he retired in 1991 in his 70s. Hutto’s son Timothy took over the business at that time.

Timothy Hutto sold the store in May of this year due to personal health issues. He said the store has always been a special part of his life.

“I went to work there for my dad when I was ten years old,” Hutto said. “I ran it for about 30 years.”

Hutto’s hope is that the store will remain open.

“I would like to see them keep on going,” Hutto said. “They are good people. I want to see it succeed, thrive and do really good.”

The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Fire Department responded to the store at 1310 Cannon Bridge Road around 6:55 a.m. Sunday.

Firefighters arrived within about five minutes of dispatch time and noticed fire coming from a broken front window, according to an ODPS fire incident report.

Firefighters brought the fire under control within about 10 minutes of arrival time, the report states.

Cannon Bridge Road was temporarily shut down for the safety of firefighters at the scene.

The store was unoccupied at the time of the fire and there are no reported injuries, according to the report.

The ODPS Fire Marshal’s Office was notified, and the fire was determined to be accidental.

The fire was the third structure fire ODPS responded to in a 24-hour period.

The first fire occurred Saturday on Bleakley Street when a unattended trash fire spread to a neighboring abandoned structure, according to ODPS.

Saturday’s second fire started in a home’s kitchen on Highland Street, where firefighters were at the scene in about four minutes.

The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes of arrival, with the interior of the dwelling suffering significant smoke and heat damage, according to ODPS.

The American Red Cross is aiding four individuals.

There were no reported injuries with any of the fires. All fires were determined to be accidental.