MCDONALD'S WORKERS TO BE REASSIGNED

JACKSON -- Wednesday night's blaze at the Jackson McDonald's Restaurant destroyed the building, but employees won't be out of a job.

A spokeswoman for Rich House Inc., the company that owns the Jackson and Cape Girardeau McDonald's restaurants, said workers from Jackson would be reassigned to the Cape Girardeau restaurants.

Jerry Davis, Rich House Inc. company president, met with supervisors Thursday and divided the Jackson employees between the Cape Girardeau restaurants, the spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said McDonald's would rebuild the Jackson restaurant.

Firefighters from Jackson and Cape Girardeau intensely battled the blaze at the McDonald's Restaurant at 2220 E. Highway 61 for almost three hours Wednesday night.

Jackson firefighters responded to the fire just after 8:30 p.m. By 9, the building was engulfed in flames.

Cape Girardeau firefighters didn't leave the scene until midnight.

"We appreciate that mutual-aid assistance," Jackson Fire Chief Gary Niswonger said about the Cape Girardeau firefighters. "They did a great job."

Niswonger said Jackson firefighters left the scene about 5:35 a.m. Thursday. He said crews returned to the McDonald's at 6 a.m. for a hot spot.

Niswonger and Bruce Thurlo of the state fire marshal's office said the cause of the fire was gasoline fumes. They said a gasoline can and a leaf blower were placed in a room with a gas water heater. The pilot light most likely ignited the fumes and started the fire, they said.

None of the customers or employees of the restaurant was injured in the blaze. Niswonger said two firefighters were treated at the scene Wednesday night for minor injuries.

Niswonger set damage estimates Thursday at $500,000.