OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) -- Authorities were investigating a massive downtown fire that displaced three businesses and caused millions of dollars in damage.
The raging blaze that began early Friday afternoon destroyed Boyt Harness Co., a hunting and shooting apparel manufacturer. The fire continued to smolder through the night.
Everyone escaped as the fire quickly engulfed the building and spread to adjacent businesses, Curves for Women and Chris' Photography. No one was injured.
Boyt Harness President Tony Caligiuri estimated the loss to be at least $4 million while the company's 25 Osceola employees remained uncertain about their future.
"We are going to rebuild and go forward,'' Caligiuri said as fire crews doused the flames.
Boyt Harness employee Judy Klemesrud, 40, of Osceola said the fire apparently began in the company's back cutting room.
"I was shocked ... It's always quiet on Fridays,'' she said. "I don't know what we are going to do.''
Moments earlier, the blaze would have interrupted workout classes at Curves, said Co-owner Ann Townsley, 51.
"When I got back there, there was just a little bit of smoke coming out,'' she said. "It wasn't 15 minutes before the whole place was blazing.''
Towering smoke could be seen from at least 10 miles away and hundreds of people came to watch.
By early evening, all that remained of the buildings was the gutted-out shell of a quarter-block's worth of businesses. The fire is "the most devastating I've seen for a long time,'' Osceola Mayor Fred Diehl said.
Boyt Harness had been located in Osceola since 1996 when investors purchased the company and relocated it to an old industry building just south of the town square.
"It's a landmark. It has been a big business for this town,'' said local real estate agent Lois Dau.
The damage could have been much worse, local officials said.
"It's certainly going to leave a scar,'' said Stacy Gibbs, executive director of the Clarke County Development Corp. "But I think we'll do our best to get these guys up and going as soon as possible. . . . Our main objective is doing what we can for the employees and their families, and getting them back on their feet.''
Local grocery stores and restaurants rushed food to the scene to feed helpers and firefighters. The Evangelical Free Church opened its fellowship hall. A construction company helped haul water to the fire.
"Our theme is 'a can-do state of mind,' and when bad things happen, we just do whatever we have to do to fix things,'' said Jim Schipper, president of American State Bank in Osceola.
Chris Robins, owner of the photography studio, agreed. Despite the loss, she was still planning to take wedding pictures on Saturday.
"Now, I've got to kind of start all over again and let them know I'm still here and still going,'' Robins said.
By early evening, Mayor Diehl said new spots for Curves and the photography studio had been found. Boyt Harness' officials were making plans to inspect the damage on Saturday.
"We'll make it,'' Diehl said. "We're tough - we'll come back and we'll rebuild it and we'll be stronger.''
Fire officials had yet to determine the cause of blaze Friday night. They were to return to the scene on Monday to continue the investigation.
Information from: The Des Moines Register
