TRAP – Arson has not been ruled out as the possible cause for a fire that destroyed a Bertie County landmark nearly two weeks ago.

Bertie County Sheriff John Holley said on Tuesday of this week that although arson was not listed in the original report of an April 17 blaze at the Trap General Store, the cause of the fire is listed as “suspicious.”

“The cause remains under investigation by the Bertie Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina SBI,” Holley said. “The SBI arson unit was called in, including their dog. The SBI has agents who specialize in these types of investigations; from the use of chemicals to the use of arson dogs, and I need to thank the SBI for their assistance.”

Holley said the ongoing investigation has revealed that the fire started at the back door.

“We are still talking to people, and looking to confirm whether or not it was arson.  We’ve talked to some people, but still have more to talk to,” the Sheriff added.

The Trap General Store was located in that crossroads community at the intersection of NC 42 and Quebec Road.

It was of two such general merchandise stores that were built in the late 1930’s, and served customers spanning several generations at that intersection.

The blaze was reported after the store had closed on Sunday, April 17. Members of the Trap Volunteer Fire Department arrived at around 11:59 p.m. As of early morning on April 18, firemen were still on the scene extinguishing small flare-ups, through the smoke and soot.

“I live about three miles from the store (Bud Taylor Road),” said Trap Fire Chief Mike Harrell, “and when I headed out for the call, I could see the flames from my house.”

Harrell said it was a three-alarm fire with two trucks from the Trap VFD battling the blaze joined by an engine truck, a tanker, and an equipment truck from the Colerain Fire Department.  The Powellsville Fire Department sent two tankers and an engine, all needed to subdue the inferno.

Harrell said the store has been owned since 2009 by Abdul Rafas.  It was built in 1937 by Bertie Wiggins and owned and operated by a sightless gentleman, a Mr. White, who ran it for several years with his wife.  Ownership of the store then went over to Mike Harrell’s grandfather, who ran it as a family business for 47 years, first as R.D. Harrell & Son, and later taken over by the son, W.D. Harrell.

Roy Worrell owned and operated the store after the Harrell’s sold it, and there the business remained until Rafas assumed ownership.

(R-C News-Herald Staff Writer Gene Motley contributed to this story.)