FIRES IN SIKESTON UNDER INVESTIGATION

SIKESTON -- The causes of two early-morning fires in Sikeston Monday are being investigated by fire officials, who say they aren't sure if the two are connected.

Three businesses were destroyed in the fires, just four blocks away.

The first blaze, at 515 West Malone Ave., destroyed a warehouse and party business, both at the same location. The warehouse was owned by Food Giant and the party business is Affairs to Remember.

Firefighters were notified by a 911 call at 2:18 a.m. Monday. When they arrived, the building was fully involved, with flames shooting from the roof, said a spokesman for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

By 7:09 a.m., the fire was under control, the spokesman said. The building was severely damaged, but no one was inside when the fire broke out, he said. At least two-thirds of the building was destroyed.

The second fire was reported at about 5:30 a.m., four blocks away at 505 South Frisco. Several fire departments responded to the warehouse blaze. Officials are not ruling out arson, but say a cause has not been determined. That fire may have started in a trash can behind the building, they said.