Fire destroys Ozark Treasures Thrift Store in West Plains, Mo.

hillnholler — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:15:38 +0000

West Plains, Mo. — A late afternoon fire here Tuesday, May 15, destroyed Ozark Treasures Thrift Store at 1026 St. Louis St.
The fire was discovered in an office and started at an electrical outlet. By the time the store owner, Tommy Wince, returned with a fire extinguisher the entire room was involved, according to West Plains Fire Department Captain Kurt Wilbanks.
The interior of the building was involved when fire fighters arrived on the scene, and the heat and flames kept fire fighters out of the structure. Wilbanks said they were unable to ventilate the roof because the second peaked roof on the concrete block structure became unstable and fire fighters had to collapse a wall to get to the blaze.
The five people who were in the store evacuated when the fire started, and no injuries were reported.
It took 25 fire fighters from the West Plains and Howell County Rural Fire Departments about two hours to get the blaze under control, and they were at the scene for about six hours, according to a West Plains Fire Department spokesman.
Also evacuated during the fire was the nearby day care center Circus Circus, because smoke and flames were blowing in that direction. No damage was done to that structure, firemen said.
The Ozark Treasures Thrift Store was a 6,000 sq. ft. building owned by Wayne Prewett of West Plains. The building previously had been a discount grocery store.
Fire fighters from the Pomona and Pottersville Fire Departments covered for the West Plains Department while they were fighting the blaze.

To view videos of firefighting efforts at Ozark Treasures Thrift Store, go to STATter911.com

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Fire destroys Ozark Treasures Thrift Store in West Plains, Mo.