A fire at the vacant Soft Cloth Carwash on Jan. 26 is being linked to the homeless crisis in the county. The carwash is adjacent to the Exxon gas station across from Best Buy in Waynesville where authorities were dispatched after someone reported smoke behind the car wash. Four firetrucks responded and crews reported they found fire inside and smoke coming from all four sides of the building but were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. Investigators have deemed the fire accidental, and said belongings found inside the building suggests transients were using it for shelter.
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