Several fire crews fight blaze at Scott County business

The cause of a fire at a local pallet company remained unknown as firefighters from seven departments battled the blaze hours after it started.

Several area fire departments work to extinguish a blaze Friday at Pallet Connections on Route H in Scott County. (Glenn Landberg)

"We were initially contacted about 4:20," firefighter Richard Myers of the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District said Friday night.

The company, Pallet Connections, is on Route H in Scott County.

Myers said the blaze started in the northwest corner of the lot, which was filled with pallets and mulch. No structure was involved.

Along with Myers' department, the Oran, Miner, NBC, Morehouse and Dexter fire departments, along with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, responded to the scene.

Myers said trucks were expending their water supplies, leaving to refill and then return.

"We contacted Dexter for their 5,000-gallon tanker," he said.

Pallet Connections owner Karrie Casey reported the fire, which she said must have started quickly. One of her employees left for the day at 4 p.m., and "at 4:10 my kids were screaming" to alert her to the fire, she said.

Several area fire departments work to extinguish a blaze Friday at Pallet Connections on Route H in Scott County. (Glenn Landberg)

Casey said she initially believed the blaze to be small, and notified the fire department before going out to check on it.

"When I came outside, I wanted to puke," she said, describing the blaze as nearly seven stories high. She then called the fire department back to tell them she had underestimated the situation.

Casey said the pallets were being turned to mulch because of EPA restrictions on how the company can dispose of them.

Casey did not know an estimated dollar loss for the company.

"A lot," she said.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

Route H, Scott County, MO