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JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Fire inspectors had visited a Jacksonville furniture store six weeks before it was destroyed in last Tuesday’s massive fire.
Furniture Plus on North Marine Boulevard was a total loss in the fire that injured five firefighters.
Investigators have yet to say what started the blaze that began in a warehouse behind the showroom.
In an April 21st inspection report obtained by WITN News, a fire inspector said that excessive stock was creating an “onsite storage issue.”
The report said the store failed the fire code, which prohibits combustible waste material from accumulating in buildings.
It said the fire department was continuing to work with the store’s owner, Greg Popkin, on the problems.
A reinspection date was set for May 21st.
WITN has been unable to confirm with the city that the follow-up inspection took place.
When asked for clarification, Public Safety Public Information Officer Sarah Sinese said, “We are working on putting everything together and should have it out to you next week.”
The April 21st report also says the inspection type is “Re-Inspection (Compliant).”
When reached by phone about the inspection report, Popkin said that he disagreed that anything found during the inspection was combustible. He also says that he believes the follow-up inspection happened.
On Wednesday, WITN asked the city for all inspections of the business for the past five years, as well as any supporting paperwork associated with those reports.
After providing us with the April 21st report, public safety referred us to the city clerk’s office to make our expanded request.
We filed our expanded request with City Clerk Rose Marshburn, who said the city would not give us the items due to “an active and ongoing investigation.” Marshburn said they would share what they can when the investigation is complete.
WITN expressed disagreement with that stance, as we are requesting historical public records filed before the fire.
North Carolina General Statute 132-1.4 governing criminal investigations says, “(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing any public law enforcement agency to prohibit or prevent another public agency having custody of a public record from permitting the inspection, examination, or copying of such public record in compliance with G.S. 132-6. The use of a public record in connection with a criminal investigation or the gathering of criminal intelligence shall not affect its status as a public record.”
April 21, 2026 inspection:
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