Jimmy’s Market in Bingham, which closed Wednesday after a fire in a construction area, reopened later that night with minimal damage to the store and the products in it, the owner said Thursday.

The market – the only grocery store in Bingham – was evacuated Wednesday around 11 a.m. after a spark from a cutting torch ignited foam insulation in a construction area, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

There were no injuries reported but the store remained close for about six hours Wednesday.

“It really wasn’t that bad,” said store owner Todd West. “Luckily we got it out very quickly.”

A state inspector visited the store Thursday and while some food and products had to be thrown out because of water damage the estimated cost of the damage “could have been a lot worse,” West said.

Most of the damage to the building was in a construction area where an addition is being planned, he said. “There was some little stuff that we lost,” he said. “A lot of the insulation that was damaged though was coming out anyway. Structurally there was no damage to the building.”

The market is independently owned but sells Hannaford-brand products, according to the store’s website. The addition is scheduled to be finished by April or May, according to West.


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