Fire at Columbia dealership ruled accidental

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Investigators determined that a late December fire at a Columbia ATV and powersports dealership was accidental.

A Columbia Fire Department report says the dealership owner, Stuart Head, told investigators that he suspects the fire at Head Motor Co. could have started in the wiring of an ATV's stereo system on the lot. However, investigators could not say for sure what started the fire.

The fire started in the front compartment of an ATV parked in the southeast corner of the lot on Freedom Drive. Eight ATVs and one waverunner were caught in the fire, the report says. The first firefighters at the scene cut a hole in a chainlink fence to get access to the lot.

The report pegs the property loss at about $200,000.

Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer spotted the fire while driving along Interstate 70 at about 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 21.