A former business in the 1200 block of South 11th Street is a pile of rubble following an early morning fire Monday where 19 firefighters fought the blaze for about five hours.
“We will never know the cause of the fire — the damage was so great,” said Poplar Bluff Fire Chief Mike Moffitt.
He said the state fire marshal has inspected the scene and doesn’t believe it was arson.
A full call back of firefighters with 19 personnel on the scene and eight pieces of apparatuses, as well as the street department personnel and equipment, enabled the team to remain injury free, which Moffitt believes was the “best outcome we could have hoped for.”
City firefighters got the call to the unoccupied building at 3:37 a.m. and were on the scene until 8:47 a.m.
While en route, firefighters were advised flames were showing through the roof of the two-story structure. Firefighters assessed the scene and learned there was fire in the basement, main floor and coming from the attic through the roof.
Reports explained, crews began fire attacks and tried to fight their way to the interior, as crews attacked from the doorway on two sides. Conditions continued to deteriorate and safety became a concern, so on-duty crews and call-back crews continued the defensive attack. They also used a master stream on the aerial tip until the building fell in on itself. The Street Department brought their excavator to assist with extinguishing of the fire.
Arvel Billington, who owned the property, was using it for storage while remodeling it to sell.
The structure formerly had housed Kiefer Custom Upholstery, as well as a clothing store. Moffitt said, Billington believes at one time it was a grocery store.
The building was secure when firefighters arrived so they don’t suspect foul play.
The fire appears to have started in the attic of the large building which made it harder to extinguish, the chief said,
“The fire had to big a start when the guys arrived,” Moffitt said. “The fire was already through the roof.”
The Poplar Bluff Street Department brought in the excavator and took apart walls set really close to the street.
Poplar Bluff Police Municipal Utilities, Spire Gas and emergency medical services crew responded.
Moffit said city firefighters responded to 10 calls Friday, three each Saturday and Sunday, and nine calls Monday. He said some of the fires this weekend were caused by fireworks.