Fire destroys two downtown businesses in Stoddard County town

PUXICO, Mo. -- An early morning fire Wednesday destroyed a business and vacant storefront in downtown Puxico.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time but does not appear to be suspicious, according to authorities.

Firefighters continued to put out small flare ups as of 9 a.m., seven hours after flames began to consume The Wash House and the former location of a community center, once the Puxico Restaurant.

Firefighters battle a fire in downtown Puxico on Wednesday morning, Oct. 27, 2010. (Paul Davis/Daily American Republic)

The roof above the laundry and empty storefront had caved in. Firefighters believe the outer southern wall, as well as the front wall in that area, are unstable.

The Puxico Press newspaper offices received water and smoke damage, Puxico fire chief Daniel Dew said, although his men were able to remove computers and some other equipment before the damage was done. It will publish uninterrupted, publisher Don Schrieber said.

A 911 caller reported smoke rising from the roof of a building around 2:30 a.m., Puxico police chief Johnny Clark said.

Members of the Puxico Volunteer Fire Department arrived shortly after and immediately called in mutual aid from Bloomfield.

"The laundry and about half of the old restaurant were on fire," Dew said. "We started to make entry, but as we did, the fire vented through the roof. We pulled back and started to tag the fire with aerial" hoses.

Dew said Advance and Dexter firefighters were called in after fire vented through the roof of the empty community center.

"We were losing the battle for a while, but then took aerials around to the rear of the fire and knocked it down to keep it from spreading to other buildings," Dexter fire chief Al Banken said, adding, "This is a big loss to Puxico. Anytime you lose a store, it's a bad loss."

The age of the buildings, which likely date from the early 1900s, made the fire difficult to fight, Dew said.

One Puxico firefighter left the scene with emergency workers after suffering a slight back injury, Dew said. No other injuries were reported.

The Wash House is owned by Jeff and Terry Harmon of Puxico.

The business was insured, said Terry Harmon.

"Puxico needs a laundromat ... but we don't know what we'll do until we find out something from the insurance company," she said.

Cleanup likely will begin within the next two days, after approval is received from the fire marshal, according to Schrieber.

"We hope to reoccupy the building within the next two weeks," he said. "I commend the Puxico Fire Department and adjacent fire departments for their quick response and professional actions."

The storefront that held the former community center is owned by Lori Phillips of St. Louis, according to city employees.

The Puxico business area has been plagued by fire over the last century, according to residents. Large portions of the business district on or near E.L. Hawks street were destroyed by fires in 1909, 1925, 1946 and 1956.