NEWS

JANUARY 2010                             

FISHER BUILDING FIRE

ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO AN FRAME BUILDING YESTERDAY WHEN FIRE WAS REPORTED IN A REAR WALL OF THE STRUCTURE NEXT TO THE LATE CHARLES FISHER’S LAW OFFICE- 2200 MARTIN LUTHER KING IN LIBERTY. WORKERS NEARBY AT TOWER AUTOPLEX AUTO DETAILING SHOP SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE BUILDING. THEY ACTED QUICKLY AND HAD THE FIRE OUT WHEN THE LIBERTY FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. FIRE FIGHTERS USED FANS TO REMOVE SMOKE WHILE DOUBLE CHECKING FOR REMAINING FIRE. THAT SMALL BUILDING HOUSES RECORDS THAT MR. FISHER WAS RESEARCHING BEFORE HIS DEATH. FAMILY MEMBERS ARE NOW RESEARCHING THOSE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. FIRE CHIEF FRED COLLINS SAID CARELESS USE OF SMOKING MATERIALS WAS CAUSE OF THE FIRE, JUST WEST OF TRI-COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION FACILITIES. FOUR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS SAID CLIENTS AT THE MHMR OFTEN GO BEHIND THE FRAME BUILDING TO SMOKE. MOST OF THEM SAFELY DISPOSE OF THEIR CIGARETTES. BUT CIGARETTE BUTTS WERE ALSO FOUND PUSHED IN THE WALL FROM OUTSIDE. SOME WERE LAID ON THE WINDOW SILL. ONE OF THOSE APPARENTLY IGNITED THE FIRE. LIBERTY CHIEF COLLINS DID NOT CONFIRM THAT BUT REFERRED TO CARELESS USE OF SMOKING MATERIALS. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO CONTENTS OF THE BUILDING BUT WALL BOARDS WERE REMOVED TO BE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT.