Your Building's On Fire!
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The alarm went out at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon as the the building on the northeast corner of Madison and Kosciuszko was reportedly on fire. Within an hour, the fire had escalated to a general alarm with trucks from Bay City and Hampton and some 33 firefighters on the scene.
The building houses about six businesses in the downstairs and had "seven or eight" apartments upstairs, saidToni Schupback who, with her husband, owns Schupback Assurance Group. "The tattoo guy from next door came and said that there was a fire in an upstairs apartment on the other side of the building", said Schupback. It didn't sound like much so I walked out without my purse. Then the firemen wouldn't let us back in. I think one of them got our computer and my purse out."Another witness said that she heard that an off duty fireman was first on the scene and got in to warn upstairs residents and get them out. Other neighbors were reported to have run in to warn residents and help get them out. Late reports were that there were no injuries or fatalities.
A retired fire captain was in the crowd and spoke with MyBayCity.com. "The department has talked about this building for a long time. We had a plan for how to handle a fire, where to lay hose, and how to get in and get to the apartments." He said that it looked like the plan was being followed.Nancy Schafer owned Wedding Daze in the southeast corner of the building. "The Domino's guy ran in from next door and asked 'Do you know your building is on fire?' I had no idea. I got some of my things out but not my sewing machine. I think one of the firemen got my computer. It's terrible because a lot of brides have their dresses in there." Schafer went on to say, "We're all self employed people in thebuilding. We don't have a big company behind us. This is our lives."
Schafer's shop was in the last section to be destroyed. As the fire spread to that corner, a fireman exclaimed "the second story floor just went. Look at the water come out the doors." As the ceiling of Wedding Daze gave way all the water on the second floor flooded down and exploded out the doors and onto the street. Papers, material and other items from the building came out with the flood and floated down the street.The 100 year old building once housed a cigar company. Later the building may have housed a Kroger store and was home to a popcorn and potato chip company. The building and the businesses it housed are a total loss.
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Stephen Kent |
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