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NATCHEZ – Firefighters are battling a blaze at Live Oak Garden Center.

The blaze at the nursery and garden center, 169 Homochitto St., broke out around 6 p.m. on Friday.

Owner Dick Thompson, who watched as flames licked the outside of a window, told The Democrat he thinks the fire was started by a “disgruntled employee.”

Thompson said he was called by a friend and told that his business was on fire. He said earlier on Friday he was assaulted by an employee at one of his business locations. He said that employee threatened “to kill me and do me harm” while displaying bruises and bloody marks on his arm.

Thompson said he built the structure in 1979.

Firefighters were still battling the blaze at 7 p.m.

This is a developing story.