ZEBULON - Despite concerns about a dangerous fire from one neighboring business owner, town officials say the owner of the Fantastic Wheels storage facility is following all the rules.

The company uses its facility at 217 N. Arendell Avenue as a storage facility for tires that are used at the company's shop a few blocks away.

The large number of tires stored in the facility worries neighbor Mike Weeks, whose law practice is just a couple doors away.

"If it catches on fire it's going to take out the whole block because it's going to be near impossible to put out," said Weeks. "As I understand, when tires burn they get really, really hot."

But town officials say the use meets all the town's guidelines, even if it is an unusual use for a commercial property in the heart of the downtown district.

Zebulon fire Chief Sidney Perry said tires, which contain petroleum products, are considered a heavy fire load and that the chance of such materials causing a spreading fire is much greater because they burn more rapidly than items found in a typical business office.

"I can certainly understand the concern," Perry said. "They know if it caught on fire at three in the morning chances are it wouldn't be caught as soon, where if it was a normal business occupancy there the fire wouldn't catch on as quickly as it would when full of tires."

Fantastic Wheels owner Nancy Minano said she hadn't heard any complaints from local business owners, and doesn't think the property is a hazard.

"We've never had problems with the neighbors," Minano said. "The inspector came and told us what we have to do inside for the fire department. That means we've followed the rules for what they needed, and everything is OK."

Minano added anyone who is concerned about the storage location might not have worry for much longer, because the downtown property is currently for sale.

"Daily and weekly we're lowering the quantity of tires inside," she said.

Playing by the rules

Perry said the property is in compliance with town and state fire code. The most recent state mandated three-year inspection took place Jan. 6, 2010 and four violations were found. There were no emergency lights or exit signs in the front and rear of the building, the working exit at the rear of the property was blocked, and aisle ways inside the storage property were less than the required 36-inch width.

The fire department allows 30 days for properties to come into compliance when violations are found. Zebulon Fire Lt. Larry Woodard said the violations had been corrected when he returned for a follow-up inspection on Feb. 8, 2010, and that everything else looked fine.

Zebulon Planning Director Mark Hetrick said storage for an allowable use is permitted in the downtown area, and he's comfortable with the tire storage as long as the fire department gives it the OK.

"The fire department ensures that aisle width is open to get in and out as well as checking the height of storage," Hetrick said.

Other businesses in downtown, like Debnam Hardware, use portions of their property - but not the entire property - for storage according to Hetrick. He said from a planning perspective the property is no different than any other storage taking place in downtown.

"Obviously if they're in compliance, they're in compliance," Weeks said. "I know the fire department inspects every building on this street. I know if the chief sees they were not in compliance they would be summoned and told what to do to deal with it."

In an effort to empty the downtown property in hopes of selling it, Fantastic Wheels now stores incoming shipments of tires at its South Arendell Avenue retail location.

It's been years since a large fire struck downtown. In 1969, Theo Davis Printing, which was located where Sun Trust Bank now stands, caught fire in a blaze that consumed two buildings and damaged two others.. .