Early morning fire

East County firefighters began their initial attack on the fire that destroyed the original building of Missouri Plastic & Recycling, 4751 Route Y, shortly after 5 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters were able to stop the fire before it spread to a just-completed addition. About 75 firefighters from nine county fire departments responded to the fire, said Cape Girardeau fire Lt. Steve Mirly. No one was in the roughly 30,000-square-foot plastics and paper recycling company at the time, he said. The building was nearly 70 percent engulfed in flames, said Mirly, who was first on the scene. The cause was under investigation. Mirly said the fire was under control by about 7:30 a.m. and took more than 330,000 gallons of water to be put out. The company has an estimated 12 to 15 employees.