Crews respond to fire on roof of Sikeston retailer

SIKESTON — Fire crews were called to a Sikeston home improvement retailer early Thursday after a truck driver noticed smoke and fire from the highway and alerted officials.

At about 2:30 a.m. Thursday, fire crews responded to Lowe’s Home Improvement on South Main Street in Sikeston after a truck driver traveling on Highway 60 noticed flames and smoke, according Sgt. Jon Broom, public information officer with Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

The truck driver called 911, and DPS patrol officers responded, Broom said. The officers confirmed flames and smoke on the roof of Lowe’s, and Sikeston DPS Fire Division’s Aerial Ladder Unit responded to the scene, Broom said.

“It was discovered the flames were coming from the top surface of the roof, and they were able to quickly get the fire under control,” Broom said of the Fire Division, adding there were no reported injuries.

The Lowe’s building sustained water damage, and the roof received fire damage. There was some minor damage to the roof. The business was closed at the time of the alarm, and it remained open Thursday during its normal hours.

After an inspection from the fire marshal, it was determined the fire was caused from fireworks that had landed on the roof, Broom said. The fire marshal found cardboard mortar and cardboard, he noted.

“We don’t know who shot the fireworks or when it happened. It could have been smoldering for a couple hours,” he said.

The store’s fire alarm did not sound, and if the truck driver had not notified authorities when he did, the fire could have been a lot worse, Broom said.

“A fire doubles in size every minute,” Broom said.

There is an ordinance prohibiting shooting fireworks inside the city limits of Sikeston, he said. Many buildings sit close together and the ordinance is in place to prevent accidents and fires like the one that occurred early Thursday from happening, he said.