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BASTROP — A local sanitation company woke up to the smoldering remains of their office building, Jan. 21, but are committed to rebuilding and carrying on their rural routes.
Donnie Stark Garbage Service is a family owned and operated business that has served parts of Bastrop, Caldwell and Travis County since 1978. Executive Manager Dondra Carlson, daughter of Stark, received a call early Sunday morning from a neighbor informing her that their office building at 4050 Farm to Market 535 has been consumed by flames.
“It’s been here for a long time. When you come to Rockne this is what you see, this house,” said Carlson. “It’s just about getting back up and running again and our customers understanding that we’re a little slow right now. Adapt and overcome, that’s what we do.”
The old residential building turned office space was set ablaze from an electrical fire that started in the kitchen’s air conditioner and heater unit. While emergency response was fast, the building sustained irreparable damage and the company was only able to save a single laptop, according to Carlson.
The six employees have been working daily to clean up the site, making use of their own garbage trucks.
“We just don’t want it to be an eyesore, we don’t want anyone coming in and it hurt someone, cause at any time this roof right here could come down,” added Carlson. “Anything for my dad.”
Community support has been amazing, said the sanitation worker, receiving surprise donations even though they have made it clear they are not looking for any handouts.
Unfortunately, the house was not insured, according to the daughter.
“Life gets busy and then you forget. But I think we all learned a lesson, insurance,” said Carlson.
Donnie Stark Garbage Service plans to stay on site after the wreckage has been reclaimed, hoping to save some of the hardwood flooring for a patio, at the least.
The team continues to serve their community despite the setback, operating from a trailer on the property.
“We’ve been hit before with things, our thing is we didn’t lose anybody. This is material stuff that we can replace. God has another plan, so we’ll just go from there and see what he’s got all planned out,” added Carlson.
