Vehicle burns in parking garage near Mo. Capitol

Jack Renick pulls the hose forward and back as Doug Bondurant sprays the garage ceiling, walls and floor in an effort to remove smoke residue. Crews from Facilities Management section spent much of Thursday cleaning up the aftermath of a vehicle fire in the House of Representatives parking garage, immediately west of the Capitol building. Engineers also checked the structural integrity of the concrete in the surrounding area of the fire.
Jack Renick pulls the hose forward and back as Doug Bondurant sprays the garage ceiling, walls and floor in an effort to remove smoke residue. Crews from Facilities Management section spent much of Thursday cleaning up the aftermath of a vehicle fire in the House of Representatives parking garage, immediately west of the Capitol building. Engineers also checked the structural integrity of the concrete in the surrounding area of the fire.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Part of parking garage at the Missouri Capitol has been shut down while authorities determine whether a vehicle fire caused structural damage.

A minivan caught on fire Thursday morning on the third deck of the parking garage located just west of the Capitol building. Jefferson City Fire Chief Bob Rennick says the fire appears to have been caused by a mechanical or electrical problem on the vehicle.

Rennick says the fire may have caused cracking on the concrete slabs that form the floor and ceiling where the vehicle was parked.

The state Office of Administration says portions of the garage will remain closed while a damage assessment is performed.

The fire sent black smoke billowing over the Capitol and forced traffic to be diverted as state employees arrived to work.