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Fire near Farmer City destroys Strat-O-Span warehouse
By Steve Hoffman
pantregnews@gmail.com
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FARMER CITY -- The official cause hasn’t been determined for a fire Saturday that claimed the Strat-O-Span warehouse building west of Farmer City, but the fire chief does not suspect foul play.

“We are thinking it was accidental. It doesn’t look intentional,” Farmer City Fire Chief Russ Pearl said.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters were called at 5:50 a.m., but the building was nearly destroyed, Pearl said. He thought the fire had been going for “at least a few hours” before it was discovered.

The fire chief said the initial call went to the DeWitt County dispatch center, which in turn alerted the Farmer City Fire Department.

The blaze had started to spread to an adjacent office area, but firefighters, including those from Farmer City, LeRoy and Downs, were able to contain it and save the office structure.

Strat-O-Span, located along U.S. 150 two miles west of Farmer City, is a manufacturer of lumber and steel building products, most notably building trusses. Wood stored in the building helped feed the fire, making it hard to extinguish.

Firefighters were on the site until about noon. Farmer City and DeWitt County sheriff’s police also helped at the scene, along with the Farmer City Ambulance Service.

The Illinois state fire marshal’s office should issue a preliminary report by the middle of the week.

Take a look
A firefighter surveys the scene of an early-morning blaze that claimed two of three buildings at Stratmann Lumber Co. two miles west of Farmer City on Saturday (Aug. 11, 2007). (Pantagraph/Steve Hoffman)
Firefighter spray water on the site of an early-morning blaze that claimed two of three buildings at Stratmann Lumber Co. two miles west of Farmer City on Saturday (Aug. 11, 2007). (Pantagraph/Steve Hoffman)
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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Yellow Bellied pantregnews wrote on Aug 12, 2007 9:47 PM:

" Thank you for the two lame comments. "

Will wrote on Aug 12, 2007 12:47 PM:

" probably be the end of that business in this area. "

Bummer** wrote on Aug 12, 2007 10:00 AM:

" Glad no one was hurt. "
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