Dino's Pizza damaged by fire, but building is not a total loss

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A fire erupted early Wednesday morning at Dino’s Pizza in Cape Girardeau.

Firefighters responded to a call at 2:17 a.m. and arrived at the scene to find smoke throughout the building. Firefighters located a fire in the basement and were able to put out the blaze by 3:00 a.m.

Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Starnes says nobody was injured, but smoke damage was extensive.

“Through the whole building we’re estimating about 250 thousand dollars worth of damage,” Starnes says. “The building is not a total loss, though. If the owner deems necessary he can go ahead and clean it up and re-open it, but there will be several issues that he’ll have to take care of through inspections.”

Starnes says the fire extended beyond the basement to the first floor, where the restaurant and an apartment is located. The fire never reached a second floor apartment.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department and the Fire Marshall are investigating.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Fire damages Dino's Pizza in Cape Girardeau

A fire broke out at Dino’s Pizza in Cape Girardeau early Wednesday morning.

KFVS12 reports that the fire was called in to 911 after 2 a.m. this morning.

The fire was under control by 3 a.m.

Firefighters say the fire started in the basement. The cause is still undetermined.

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Fire kills two toddlers, one adult in Chaffee

CHAFFEE, MO (KRCU) - A house fire early Wednesday morning killed two toddlers and an adult in Chaffee. A fourth person was also in the house. She is being treated at St. John’s Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.

Twenty-one year old Andrew Biler died in the blaze, as well as three-year old Jaden Nicholson and two-year old Bryton Nicholson.

Chaffee Fire Chief Sam Glency says that the loss has been hard on this small community.

“You know, I’ve been in this fire service for going on 17 years. I’ve been the fire chief for 3 years. And this doesn’t come easy. You never get used to it,” Glency said.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Fire marshalls are investigating a cause. It does not appear to be intentional.

Glency says that the fire likely started in a bedroom in the back of the house.

Fire crews from Chaffee, Scott City, and Delta put out the fire within an hour and fifteen minutes.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Fire destroys Fredericktown apartment complex

FREDERICKTOWN, MO (KRCU) - An early morning destroyed an apartment complex in Fredericktown on Thursday.

Fredericktown fire chief John Clark calls the complex a total loss.

“Upon our arrival we found a structure with flames showing through the roof. All victims were accounted for. We did have one with injuries. She was transported to Madison Medical Hospital. And we had a firefighter with a back injury. We had him checked out for precautionary measures.”

Clark estimates damage to be worth between four and five hundred thousand dollars.

The state Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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MDC holds prescribed burn workshop

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A well controlled fire can be an important land management tool.

That was one of the messages at a Missouri Department of Conservation workshop Thursday evening in the Nature Center in Cape Girardeau.

The workshop covered several different important aspects of preparing for and conducting a prescribed burn. Topics for the workshop included ideal weather conditions for burning, the importance of a burn plan, and ensuring that there is adequate equipment and people to help reduce the probability of a prescribed burn becoming a wildfire.

Dave Hasenbeck, a private lands biologist, was a facilitator at the meeting and emphasized the main points of the workshop.

"Prescribed fire is probably the lowest cost and biggest bang for your effort management tool that you can do in the Southern Ozarks. But, once again, it comes with some risk and you just need to be aware of those risks prior to the burn," Hasenbeck said.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will host another prescribed burn workshop and demo burn on April 5th.

Katie Long, KRCU

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