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CENTRALIA, IL (FOX2now.com) -
Several businesses and homes in Centralia, Illinois were destroyed when fire broke out in a half of a city block in the downtown area Monday morning. Four businesses were destroyed. A nearby restaurant was damaged, but fire officials think it should be able to re-open after it's cleaned up. Five apartments above the burning businesses were also destroyed. No one was hurt.
At least a half dozen fire departments in the area pitched-in to help. It appears the flames broke out in one of the apartments but investigators do not yet have a cause. The businesses destroyed included an optometrist office, a batting cage, a martial arts business, and a saloon which had opened nine months ago.
The manager of the bar, Robert Hays told Fox 2, "It's really bad we we're just rebuilding our kitchen in the back and put a lot of money into it, it looks like we're going to lose everything."
Charlie Hull an apartment resident told Fox 2 he saw flames coming from a neighbor's apartment but no one was home. Hull said, "It was scary, real scary, scariest part is, lost everything we got."
The state Fire Marshall is investigating. Firefighters had a tough time because the fire spread in an attic area that was hard to reach.
At least a half dozen fire departments in the area pitched-in to help. It appears the flames broke out in one of the apartments but investigators do not yet have a cause. The businesses destroyed included an optometrist office, a batting cage, a martial arts business, and a saloon which had opened nine months ago.
The manager of the bar, Robert Hays told Fox 2, "It's really bad we we're just rebuilding our kitchen in the back and put a lot of money into it, it looks like we're going to lose everything."
Charlie Hull an apartment resident told Fox 2 he saw flames coming from a neighbor's apartment but no one was home. Hull said, "It was scary, real scary, scariest part is, lost everything we got."
The state Fire Marshall is investigating. Firefighters had a tough time because the fire spread in an attic area that was hard to reach.
