Fire destroys automotive repair shop, injures one

Southeast Missourian

A Tuesday morning fire in the western part Cape Girardeau County sent one man to the hospital and reduced an automotive shop to thin metal walls.

Whitewater, Delta, Millersville and Marble Hill fire departments responded at about 8 a.m. Tuesday to a structure fire at 9116 Highway U, near the intersection with Highway A in rural Cape Girardeau County.

Whitewater fire chief Garry Moore said a worker at Virgil Schreckenberg's dual-bay, auto repair garage was at a metal grinder when he noticed a small fire by the workbench.

Authorities surmise that a stray spark from the metal grinding landed in some oily rags and started the fire, which quickly spread. By the time authorities arrived, the blaze was fully involved.

According to Schreckenberg's wife, Carolyn, his brother, John Schreckenberg, was in the shop doing personal work when the fire occurred. He re-entered the shop in an unsuccessful attempt to drive a vehicle that was in the shop out of harm's way. In doing so, he sustained first-degree burns on his face and second-degree burns on his ears. He was taken to St. Francis Medical Center and released later that day.

Moore said that the fire had burned itself out by 10 a.m. Although he didn't have exact figures, Moore estimated that Virgil Schreckenberg lost close to $50,000 in the fire -- $30,000 worth of tools and around $15,000 for the shop itself.