UPDATED: Fire destroys Calvert City McDonald’s

Ann Beckett || Marshall County Daily
Crews work Tuesday around the remains of the Calvert City McDonald’s. About 11:30 a.m. fire broke out in an air conditioning unit on the roof of the establishment. No injuries were reported in the incident.

UPDATE: Jan. 3, 2018

The Calvert City community is reeling after the loss of a local staple Tuesday, when fire broke out in the Calvert City McDonald’s and destroyed the restaurant.

According to Calvert City Fire Department, crews were dispatched along with Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department firefighters, about 11:17 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2 for an “involved structure fire” at 3442 U.S. Highway 62 iN Calvert City. On arrival, crews observed visible flames throughout the roof of the building.

“Frigid temps immediately made battling the fire difficult, and the incident commanders requested Marshall County E-911 issue a countywide page to all other departments for manpower,” CCFD issued in a statement on its social media. “We sure live in an awesome community — all parts of the county responded and their assistance was and is greatly appreciated.”

CCFD Chief Fred Ross on Tuesday told Marshall County Daily that reports the blaze began in a roof air conditioning unit. State Fire Marshals were expected to investigate the scene further Wednesday; however, the exact cause had not been determined as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Calvert City Police Chief David Elliott said on Tuesday that while the restaurant was in the midst of lunch traffic, all customers and employees were able to evacuate safely. No injuries were reported.

The building was destroyed in the blaze. Franchise owners intend to begin demolition and rebuilding in the coming weeks however, according to a WKMS report.

Palma Briensburg, Possom Trot, Fairdealing Olive, Benton City Fire Department, East Marshall, West Marshall and South Marshall fire departments, Calvert City Police, Marshall County Red Cross members and local utility companies responded on scene.

*****

ORIGINAL STORY:

Calvert City fire and police crews are working to contain a fire at McDonald’s in Calvert City.

According to a statement issued to local media, crews are working to contain the blaze and asking residents to stay away from the scene on U.S. Highway 62 near Interstate 24 in Calvert City.

Fred Ross, Calvert City Fire Chief said the department responded to the scene about 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 2, after reports of a fire having broken in a roof air conditioning unit. However, the precise cause of the fire was not yet known as of 1:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Calvert City Police Chief David Elliott said the restaurant was in the midst of the lunch rush and full of customers when the fire broke out, however the building was evacuated safely. No injuries were reported.

The building was destroyed in the fire.

Businesses in adjoining lots — Cracker Barrel, Waffle House and BP — were also blocked off from traffic at the scene to allow fire crews to continue work to douse the blaze, as of 1:40 p.m. No estimate on when those lots would reopen to traffic were available.

Ann Beckett and Mary Garrison Minyard contributed to this report.