By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Parsons Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire at the Shop ‘n Save located on D and W Lane in Parsons. According to Store Manager Greg Burner, the fire had been contained to a produce case and both the Parsons Volunteer Fire Department and the Fire Marshall were at the scene, but foul play is not suspected in the incident with a determination of Undetermined being the official finding.
According to Burner, the fire had been contained to a single cooler on the sales floor in the produce section. Burner also stated that the fire did not result in any structural damage or need for an access hole to be made in the roof. Burner said that a large amount of the smoke was from burning plastic in the area. “There was no structure damage,” Burner said. “There was no hole cut in the roof. It was contained to the produce cooler itself on the sales floor. It did not get into the walls; it did not get in anywhere else.”
There were no injuries sustained from the fire, according to Burner, as everyone was able to safely evacuate the building. “The Fire Department came,” Burner said. “Nobody was hurt, everybody was evacuated.”
The State Fire Marshal and Health Department had evaluated the scene the following day, according to Burner. Burner also said that the owner was onsite conferencing with the authorities and Parsons Fire Chief Kevin White. “The State Fire Marshall is here, as we speak,” Burner said. “Health Department’s been here. Told us what we got to pull out of the building. That’s what we are doing now, pulling and cleaning.”
Parsons Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin White said his department and the Fire Marshall were involved due to a State mandate due to the high dollar loss due to the fire. “That’s just standard procedure due to anytime there is a high dollar loss,” White said. “Something like large inventory, large structure, things like that. That’s something that the State mandates we do.”
White said there was a “great response” from both the Parsons VFD, as well as surrounding departments to the fire. “We were fortunate,” White said. “We had a great response from our department and the surrounding departments also.”
The fire has been classified as Undetermined, according to White, however, it was not suspicious. “It was nothing out of the ordinary,” White said. “Undetermined at this time. We do know that it started in a produce section in a cooler area, one of the produce stands, but that’s basically where it is going to be left at.”
Burner said that the store’s sprinkler system worked as intended during the event. However, the store did experience water and smoke damage as a result of the fire, according to Burner. “The sprinkler system actually worked as it is supposed to,” Burner said. “There was some water damage obviously and some smoke damage.”
While an exact date for reopening of the store was not available, Burner said it would reopen as soon as safely possible. Burner said, he also was unsure to what extent the reopening would be. “As soon as we can get reopened, we’ll be reopened,” Burner said. “Now to what extent and when that will be, I’m not exactly sure.”