Fire Destroys Martinez Body Shop in Sedalia
At approximately 4:33 a.m. Tuesday morning, a structure fire was reported at a building located at 101 W. Washington, in Sedalia.
The building housed a auto body repair shop and one other business.
First crews on scene within four minutes found the building full involved. The building covered approx. a half-block area, is a total loss, along with damage to a two-story house to the south, and a roof fire to an old railroad freight building to the north.
Crews were able to extinguish the fire in the freight building in about 20 minutes.
Off-duty Sedalia FD personnel were recalled as well as Mutual Aid from Pettis County Fire District. Approximately 45 firefighters and 13 pieces of apparatus were on scene.
As of 9 a.m., PCFD crews were being released and off-duty SFD personnel were also clearing the scene.
Fire Crews will remain on the scene for some time to overhaul hot spots. Also lost in the fire were 14 cars, one RV Motorhome, two forklifts and a skid steer machine in the building.
At this time, no determination of cause has been made and investigation will be difficult due to the amount of damage. Persons inside the building at the time of the alarm stated that they looked up and saw fire running above their heads in the roof as they left the building.
Neighbors stated when they heard sirens and looked outside they saw the entire building on fire as well, according to Sedalia Fire Chief Greg Harrell.