A physicians' office in Orangeburg was extensively damaged by fire in the early morning hours Saturday, but it won't stop patients from being seen, one of the doctors who practices there said Monday.

Dr. R. Dale Padgett of Bamberg said authorities have not yet determined what caused the blaze at the Boulevard Street office where he and Dr. John Hayden practice, but he said it appears the fire started in the roof of the building he rents through Reba Blackmon, Realtor.

Messages left by The Times and Democrat for the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety's duty captain Sunday and Monday were not returned.

Padgett, who was in Tampa, Fla., with his family when he received news of the fire, said patient records in the office sustained water and smoke damage and are being shipped by refrigerated truck to a company in Michigan that specializes in document restoration.

In the meantime, Padgett said he and Dr. Hayden will continue seeing patients Tuesday in the building directly behind their Boulevard Street office, which is also handled by Reba Blackmon. The parking lots of Padgett's office and the office where he and Dr. Hayden will relocate are connected, Padgett said.

"Hopefully, we're not going to miss a lick," Padgett said Monday.

He said the temporary office location is "less than ideal" but added he has already begun looking for more suitable office space.

Padgett praised his office staff, particularly Nurse Practitioner Gloria Reed, for "rising to the occasion" and coming in on a holiday weekend to help get the patient records ready to ship.

T&D Region Editor Carol Barker can be reached by e-mail at cbarker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5525. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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