Massive fire destroys historic Floyd County Courthouse
Community reels after historic Georgia courthouse burns
A historic Georgia landmark was destroyed on Monday afternoon after a massive fire gutted the 134-year-old Floyd County Courthouse in Government Plaza.
ROME, Ga. - A historic Georgia landmark was destroyed on Monday afternoon after a massive fire gutted the 134-year-old Floyd County Courthouse in Government Plaza.
What we know:
The blaze began around 2:12 p.m. and caused the building's iconic bell tower to partially collapse, leaving flames lashing through the roof.
While no injuries were reported, 35 employees have been displaced by the fire that has forced the closure of the county tag and tax offices until at least Wednesday.
"It's a terrible day for Floyd County," said county manager Jamie McCord.
Fire engulfs historic Floyd County Courthouse
FOX 5 viewer video shows a massive fire at the historic Floyd County Courthouse as fire crews work to extinguish the flames.
The firefight
Floyd Fire Division Chief Jamie Stone said crews arrived on scene about two minutes after receiving a call about the fire.
Responding firefighters immediately searched the building to ensure everyone had evacuated, only to be met with heavy smoke pouring from the second floor.
Crews switched to a "defensive attack" from the exterior, while preventing the flames from jumping onto nearby businesses on Broad Street.
Units faced significant obstacles, including wind and the structure's dry wood, which dates to 1892.
SKYFOX 5 and witness videos showed large black plumes of smoke and flames spilling from the sides of the landmark.
Damages and displacement
The landmark was home to the county's tax assessor and tax commissioner's offices.
While most of the records have been converted to digital format, McCord noted he believes many paper records were lost.
Officials are working on a place to relocate displaced staff to the current courthouse, which is directly behind the burned building.
North Fifth Avenue remained closed between Bale and Broad streets on Tuesday morning, as well as Tribune Street between 4th and 5th avenues.
Investigation and aftermath
As for the historic structure itself, its future remains uncertain.
One of the primary concerns is the rest of the building collapsing, according to Stone.
Community reels
What they're saying:
Many call the loss of the building devastating.
"As a lifelong Roman, I can tell you it's heartbreaking to see this building look like it does today," said Floyd County Commission Chair Rhonda Wallace.
Kim Wright says the historic courthouse was a special landmark in Rome. She got her marriage license there.
"A lot of history in that building, and it's sad for a lot of people who have lived here forever," said Kim Wright, who says she got her marriage license in that building.
What we don't know:
The building had been undergoing renovations, but it is uncertain whether construction was underway when the fire started.
The area around Government Plaza will remain vacant through the night.
Stone said crews will remain on scene overnight to prevent the blaze from reigniting and to monitor hotspots.
Major fire at historic Floyd County courthouse
A massive fire has broken out at the Historic Floyd County Courthouse in downtown Rome on Monday, March 23, 2026. Emergency crews are currently on the scene battling heavy flames and thick black smoke that can be seen billowing across the city’s skyline. The fire was reported early this afternoon, prompting the Rome Police Department to issue an urgent traffic advisory, asking residents to avoid 5th Avenue at Tribune and the Government Plaza area while fire operations are underway.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Rome-Floyd Fire Division, Floyd County Government officials, and SKYFOX 5 aerial footage.