Columbia, Missouri (KMKIZ)
No one was injured in a fire that broke out in central Columbia's Business Loop on Friday morning.
The Columbia Fire Department announced that the area of Business Loop 70 and Range Line will be closed for several hours while the cause of the fire at the former Plush Lounge store is investigated and hot spots extinguished.
Firefighters were dispatched to 817 North Blvd. A report of a structure fire came in just before 4 a.m.
An ABC 17 News crew at the scene saw several Columbia Fire Department trucks.
Columbia Assistant Fire Marshal Jerry Jenkins told ABC17 News that when firefighters arrived on scene, they found heavy fire coming from the building, and due to the severity of the fire, additional firefighters were called in. He said he called.
“Due to the amount of fire, the condition of the building and the potential for roof collapse, a second alarm was issued,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said crews were working to extinguish the fire from inside the building, but were evacuated because the building was unstable.
“Crews have been working the last few hours,” Jenkins said. “They were conducting fire control operations inside, but due to the roof and instability, they pulled the crew out.”
Jenkins said the building's roof collapsed and other adjacent buildings suffered smoke damage but no fire damage. There were no reports of injuries.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Check back for updates as this story develops.
