Fire causes major damage to Columbia Dollar General store

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A fire at a Columbia Dollar General store caused an estimated $600,000 in damage Monday, the Columbia Fire Department said.

Columbia Fire Department trucks were at the scene before noon battling the fire at the store at 3700 Flanders Court, just off Clark Lane in northeast Columbia.

The department later said in a news release that the fire caused $350,000 in damage to the store's contents and another $250,000 in damage to the structure. The cause is still under investigation.

Assistant Chief Jerry Jenkins said the store, which was open at the time, suffered extensive damage. Firefighters arrived at about 11:30 a.m. to heavy smoke throughout the building, he said.

Everyone got outside safely, Jenkins said.

The fire was out a little after noon but Jenkins said Hanover Boulevard at Clark Lane would be closed for some time.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the fire.