Cause of fire at Welker Fence Co. unknown

One man was treated for smoke inhalation, but no one else was injured in a fire Friday afternoon at Welker Fence Co.

Firefighters from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Delta, Millersville and Gordonville responded to the blaze, said Randy Morris, chief of the Gordonville Fire District.

Tanks of acetylene and oxygen in the north end of the building, sometimes is used for welding, posed a hazard for firefighters, Morris said.

"They just used extreme caution," he said.

A Welker employee said no one had been working in the building Friday.

Crews from the Cape Girardeau, Delta, Gordonville and Millersville fire departments put out hot spots at Welker Fence Co. at 253 Oakshire Drive in Cape Girardeau on Friday evening. (Laura Simon)

"There was nobody that had been working in the shop all day," Kenny Williams said.

The cause of the fire remained unknown, but it appeared to have begun in the south end, Morris said.

Another employee, Braeden Gockel, said the south end of the building contained an office, while the north end was a garage and work area.

No one was in the building by the time firefighters arrived, Morris said, but Cape County Ambulance treated one man for smoke inhalation.

Williams said a colleague was working on the parking lot when he noticed the blaze.

"He turned around, and it was on fire," he said.

Firefighters on their way back from another call responded quickly, Williams said.

"It was like a matter of 30 seconds after I called 911," he said.

Gockel, had been off work Friday but came to the scene when he heard about the fire.

He said the blaze likely damaged tools that were in the building, but materials stored outside were spared.

"I'm sure we still have work to do. All the material's out here, out in the yard," Gockel said.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Gordonville, MO