The Phoenix Tops company just east of Mt. Vernon was destroyed by fire Saturday morning.
Jefferson Fire officials say upon arrival at the building in the 400 block of Meadowbrook flames were blowing through the garage door and there was heavy smoke showing. The fire then spread through the 50 by 150-foot building with the roof eventually collapsing into the building. Heck’s Excavating was called and brought in a track hoe to remove the roof and most of the walls still standing to help put out the remainder of the fire.
The State Fire Marshall’s office was called to investigate the cause of the fire.
Jefferson Fire received mutual aid assistance from Bluford, Kell, Mt Vernon City, Centralia Fire Protection District, Woodlawn, Ashley, Waltonville, and Wayne City. Water was never an issue as fire lines were connected to the city water system providing the needed water to fight the blaze. One of the lines supplied water to the Mt. Vernon Fire Tower with three additional hand lines.
The website for Phoenix Tops indicates they make handcrafted wooden flag displays and cremation urns and have been family-owned and operated since 2016.
The fire call came in at 5:10 Saturday morning with most firemen leaving the scene by 9:30 am.
