SIKESTON BRASS MANUFACTURER DAMAGED BY FIRE

SIKESTON -- A brass manufacturing business was severely damaged by a fire that occurred overnight from Thursday to Friday, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety said.

The fire was reported at 10:14 p.m. on Thursday at 204 S. Handy St., Capt. Drew Juden said. Firefighters were not able to get it under control until 1:30 a.m., at which point the rear of the building had partially collapsed while the rest of the structure had suffered major smoke and water damage, Juden said.

About 40 firefighters and three engines responded to the fire. Sikeston firefighters got assistance from 15 firefighters of the Miner Fire Department, which handled Sikeston calls during the blaze.

The fire's origin and cause remain under investigation, Juden said.