In the early morning hours of Saturday, March 6, a fire was reported at 608 W. 16th St.
Sedalia Police and Sedalia Fire departments arrived minutes after the 12:54 a.m. call of a structure fire. SFD heard reports of a husband and wife who were driving down 16th Street and noticed the single-story white frame structure, which was fully engulfed in flames. The husband reportedly tried to check to see if anyone was in the building, but was driven back by the searing heat.
“My understanding is it was discovered by a passerby going down 16th Street and it was fully involved when they saw the fire,” Sedalia Fire Chief Greg Harrell told the Democrat on Monday.
The building is listed as Dillner Enterprises but is also known to officials by another name.
“The Drifters Club, that's what my understanding was,” said Harrell. “Midwest Drifters I believe is how they're called.”
Sedalia Fire quickly extinguished the blaze, but it had already burned through the roof and gutted the front rooms. The building is probably a total loss, the Chief noted.
“The fire was just too intense, I mean it's just a little unusual, it happens you know,” said Harrell. “16th Street even at that time had traffic on it. For a fire to get going that fast, to be fully involved is kind of a little strange.”
Harrell said SFD has called in the State Fire Marshal’s Office to help with the investigation.
“We did call in the State Fire Marshal's office but that's just kind of when we have some concerns or whatever, that's kind of the standard policy,” said Harrell. “So it's currently under investigation.”
The owner of the building could not be reached for comment.
