Fire in Maquon causes estimated $3 million in damages
GALESBURG — A large fire engulfed a vacant former car dealership in Maquon on Thursday, causing approximately $3 million in damages to the 12,000 square foot building and vehicles inside. There were no injuries.
Patrick Hohenbery, Chief of the Maquon Fire Department, said his department received the call for the fire at 11:54 a.m. and at least 14 other fire departments helped respond to the blaze. The fire melted siding on BR’s Place, a bar across the street, but otherwise caused no damage to other buildings.
“We got really lucky because the wind was blowing that way. If it was blowing the other way we would've had a big house on fire,” Hohenbery said.
Hohenbery said the building, located at 400 Main St., was a former Ford Dealership that had since been bought and renamed the Deluxe Auto Body Shop but he estimated the building had gone unused for the past 10 years.
The fire started in the southwest corner of the building but Hohenbery said it is unknown at this time what started the fire. The building had power but no gas. The $3 million in damages was an estimate Hohenbery said an Illinois State Fire Marshal provided.
Hohenbery said he counted at least 12 cars in the building’s basement and there were numerous other motorcycles that may all belong to the building’s owner.
As the structure is unsafe, Hohenbery said the building is being torn down Thursday night. At least 14 other fire departments responded to the fire including the Galesburg, Knoxville, Fairview, Farmington, Abingdon, Copperas Creek and Victoria fire departments.
"A part of the roof collapsed a long time ago and they never fixed it,” Hohenbery said. “It was a fire trap this whole time and my nightmare happened.”
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Fire in Maquon burns vacant car dealership, causes $3 million damages
