Investigators Seek Cause Of Storage Fire

Shawn Rogers, left, and Aaron Box, Rogers firefighters, extinguish a storagebuilding fire Tuesday near Arkansas and Union streets.
Shawn Rogers, left, and Aaron Box, Rogers firefighters, extinguish a storagebuilding fire Tuesday near Arkansas and Union streets.

— Firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire which burned a storage building near the intersection of Union and Arkansas streets Tuesday afternoon.

“We do have reason to believe that it is suspicious,” said Fire Chief Tom Jenkins.

The fire was called in about 3:30 p.m., and investigators were still talking to witnesses late Tuesday afternoon.

Neighbor Sharon Rusher was standing outside with family members when she saw two teenagers walk away from the shed. Five to 10 minutes later she smelled oil, saw smoke coming out of the building and called 911.

“Flames were coming out of it,” Rusher said.

The flames spread toward a larger storage building nearby. Witnesses said they heard the fire popping just before the entire building burst into flame.

Clarence Ogden said he has lived in the area 65 years. The building was used for storage, Ogden said.

“It’s been there a long time,” he said.

The building was about 600 square feet, Jenkins said.

Train traffic on the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad was stopped when firefighters stretched hose across the track.

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