Date: June 18, 2013
Contact: Ted Martin, Fire Chief (417) 243-2790, office or (417) 332-7112, cell
BRANSON FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES INVESTIGATION ON FIVE INTENTIONALLY SET FIRES
Branson Firefighters responded to a report of a commercial building fire at Coffelt Country Crossroads on Monday evening. Reported initially as a building on fire adjacent to the Acrobats of China Theater parking lot, firefighters discovered a pick-up on fire in the theater parking lot plus three separate buildings on the Coffelt property.
“As this was reported as a commercial building fire, we had two engines and a ladder truck responding plus
mutual aid fire apparatus,” stated Fire Chief Ted Martin. “The firefighters did an excellent job containing all the fires to the area of origin. Due the nature of the older buildings with several additions, firefighters spent several hours checking for fire extension, ventilating the smoke, and assisting the building property owners with salvaging their property and contents,” added Martin. A fourth business on the property reported fire damage to several tables on their snack bar as the fires self-extinguished.
Fire investigators from the fire department along with a Missouri State Fire Marshal started the fire investigation process after the fires were extinguished. “Fire investigators worked to eliminate all possible accidental causes and believe the fires to be intentionally set,” stated Martin. The fire department is asking any witnesses who might have seen any suspicious activity at the Coffelt property between 8:45 and 9:00pm to contact the Branson Police Department at (417) 334-3300. Tips leading to the solving of this fire incident may be eligible for a cash reward through the Missouri Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention by calling 1-800-39-ARSON or through their web site at www.MACAP.org.
The businesses at the Coffelt property were closed at the time of the fire and there were no reported injuries.
The 2013 Chevrolet pick-up was destroyed at a value of $40,000 and the four buildings damaged by the fire had early damage estimates of approximately $35,00
