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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Fire destroys Sebree Auto Parts, closes highway


by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
A fire at Sebree Auto Parts  on Saturday morning resulted in US 41 being closed for approximately four and a half hours.
“At 7:36 a.m. a fire was reported at Sebree Auto Parts, 560 US Hwy 41-North  in Sebree, KY,” reported Webster County EMA director Jeremy Moore. “Upon arrival, firefighters reported heavy fire coming from the building.”
Jim Allen Williams, a Sebree fire fighter and member of the Sebree city council was among the first firemen to arrive on the scene.
“When we got here there were starter fluid cans exploding out the front of the building and hitting the fire truck,” Williams said.
Moore said that on first responding fire fighters were concerned with oxygen and acetylene tanks located near the rear of the building, but those were cleared without incident.
Firefighters from six area volunteer fire departments responded to the call. In addition to Sebree, fire trucks from the Poole, Slaughters, Dixon and Robards Fire Departments responded, as well as a few fire fighters from the Cairo fire department.
“Webster County Emergency Management and Kentucky Emergency Response team also responded to assist firefighters in controlling the runoff from the fire in nearby streams,” said Moore.
Sebree Fire Department investigators determined the fire to be accidental in nature, originating near the rear of the structure in the vicinity of a kerosene heater. That heater has been identified as the source of ignition. 
Webster County Ambulance Service and the Webster County Sheriffs Department also assisted at the scene. 
No injuries were reported, but the building was a total loss. The owner of the business was reportedly in the building at the time of the fire, but managed to escape unharmed.
Firefighters remained on the scene until 2:00 p.m. extinguishing hot spots. 
US 41 was reopened at noon on Saturday.


JE photos by Matt Hughes.

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