No injuries reported after Jefferson City Gerbes evacuated

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fire in an empty building near a grocery store in Jefferson City led to the Gerbes on West Truman Boulevard to be evacuated on Thursday afternoon.

A press release from the Jefferson City Fire Department says the grocery store was temporarily evacuated and no injuries were reported. The store has since reopened.

“Upon arrival, the first responding company encountered heavy smoke coming from a vacant commercial space adjacent to the main grocery store,” the release says. “The space was previously occupied by Happy Garden. Based on conditions observed, the incident was immediately upgraded to a commercial structure fire, prompting the response of additional resources.”

Crews were called after a customer smelled smoke, the release says. The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes after crews arrived at 3:49 p.m., the release says. No one was in the “involved space,” the release says.