Cause of NAPA fire remains a mystery

Nevada, Mo. -- The biggest question about a dramatic fire in Nevada will probably never be answered.

That is, what started the roaring blaze that leveled the NAPA Auto Parts building at 306 E. Walnut St. three weeks ago?

State Fire Marshal Randy Sweet of Springfield has issued a preliminary finding that the Feb. 25 fire was an accident that started somewhere near the back of the store, Nevada Fire Chief Robert Benn said Friday.

But there were so many such materials and the wreckage was so complete that the exact cause has escaped detection, Benn said, adding that it could have been electrical.

"The fuel load in that structure was phenomenal with flammable solids, oils, solvents, starting fluids and oxygen and acetylene welding supplies," he said. "But it was what you normally find in a parts store.

"A fire triples in size every minute, so things increased really fast. The investigation narrowed down the general area where it started to the rear of the building toward the middle of the storage area, but it was hard to pinpoint an exact starting place.

"I believe it will be ruled accidental; but undetermined."

Benn said the smoke and flames were first reported by a neighborhood woman at 5:45 p.m., just after store owner Alvin Briscoe reported having locked up and left.

Briscoe told the Daily Mail on the night of the fire that he had closed about 5:30 and was on his way home when notified of the emergency.

He has re-opened nearby at 308 E. Walnut in the south end of the Hinds Automotive & Machine building, and he said Friday that he will eventually resume operations at a site that has yet to be designated.

"We appreciate all the support we have gotten over the years and we will continue serving the automotive needs of the area," Briscoe said, noting that the store's phone number is (417) 667-3325.

The fire site has since been cleared.

Using 13 firetrucks and other vehicles, Benn said, 10 men from the Nevada Fire Department were joined by 27 firefighters from Fort Scott, Milo, Deerfield and Compton Junction to confine the blaze to the NAPA building.

Benn said the fire was so rapacious that it would have otherwise spread west to the brick storage building at 224 E. Walnut, which also houses Jeff & Dorinda's Nevada Gymnastics & Dance Center.

"Anything less than 30 feet is defined as definite exposure and up to 100 feet as possible exposure," he said. "That building was only 10 feet away, so being able to save it was good work by my guys, Fort Scott and the rural volunteers."