An alert passerby likely prevented more severe damage being done to Williams Monument, 11 W. Broadway, when pallets stacked at the southeast corner of the building caught fire Tuesday night.
Iola firefighters were called at 10:15 p.m. and were on the scene before the blaze could penetrate more than just inside the building, Lt. Jeremy Ellington told the Register this morning.
Firefighters were able to knock down the fire “very quickly,” Ellington said.
Cause of the fire has not been determined.
The blaze was spectacular for a few minutes as the wooden pallets were consumed and sent flames into the night sky, and the fire did burn through the building’s wall.
“But it was restricted to the southeast corner,” Ellington said.
Firefighters remained on the scene for nearly two hours, to make certain all embers were extinguished and none of the rest of the building’s interior was at risk.
“That we got the call so quickly made a big difference,” Ellington said.
Terry Ellis, rural Lone Elm, owns the business.
Fire damages Williams Monuments
