Extension Cord Sparks Blaze at Mo. Business

June 25, 2014
The damage was estimated at about $40,000.

June 25--An electrical fire struck a professional tree service business in Midtown Wednesday morning.

Shortly after 5:30 a.m., firefighters arrived at Ron Lumb's TLC Professional Tree Care, located at 1913 Olive St., in response to a structure fire. Visible smoke rose from the concrete structure before firefighters broke their way into the front of the building.

Battalion Chief Russell Moore said when firefighters made entry, visible flames were spotted on a portion of the interior. Because the building was a concrete structure, the majority of the blaze was self-contained.

"We did a search right off the bat and no one was inside," Mr. Moore said. "(The concrete structure) contained a lot of heat as well, but if it had been going much longer, it could of gone through the roof."

Fire Inspector Rob Blizzard said a damaged extension cord in the front office sparked the blaze. He estimated damage at about $40,000.

No one was injured.

Copyright 2014 - St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.

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