Story Created:
Jul 17, 2008 at 5:21 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jul 17, 2008 at 5:31 PM CST
An overnight blaze kept Sioux Falls Fire Fighters busy well into Thursday morning. It happened at just after midnight at 301 South Grange Avenue. Fire investigators say it started in the New Asian Food Market and then spread to First National Pawn located next door.
When fire fighters first arrived they tried to get in the door and fight the fire from inside, but they felt the heat and flames coming up from the basement, felt the floor starting to give way, so they had to back out and fight it from a defensive position."
The flames lit up the night sky as firefighters did what they could to stop them from spreading. Battalion Chief Jay Titus told KSFY, "you're not going to risk a lot when you can't save a lot, and you don't want to endanger anybody's lives when there was no other lives in danger."
The pawn shop next door is also a total loss. The shop's assistant manager, Josh Froseth watched it all after getting a phone call. "You got a fire at the shop. Come on down, and flames everywhere." By daylight he was videotaping the scene so the owner can see what's left. "The precious metals are a big concern for management. Other than that, most everything's a 100 percent loss."
Quang Danh, the owner of the New Asian Food Market tells KSFY everything was okay when he left at 10:30 and again when he drove past 11:45pm.
After hours of watching the scene, Josh says it was pretty clear early on there wasn't going to be much left. "And it was about an hour before the roof caved in, and it was down for the count."
Investigators tell KSFY they believe it might have been lightning that sparked the blaze. They can't confirm that because they still can't get inside right now. They hope to be able to confirm that in the next couple days.
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