JC firefighters extinguish blaze in downtown building

Firefighters work from a Monroe Street parking lot to extinguish a blaze at the rear of a building in the 300 block of East High Street in downtown Jefferson City on Saturday night. Photo by Shaun Zimmerman.

By News Tribune

Originally published February 2, 2013 at 9:15 p.m., updated February 2, 2013 at 10:58 p.m.

The cause of a Saturday night fire was still under investigation late Saturday, after crews from the Jefferson City Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 308 E. High St. near the Cole County Jail.

The fire, which was reported shortly before 9 p.m., was in a second story apartment in the rear of the building, according to fire department reports. No injuries were reported, but authorities had to block off the 300 block of Monroe Street in order to fight the fire, and traffic was diverted.

Earlier coverage, posted at 9:15 p.m.:

Jefferson City firefighters responded during the 9 o'clock hour Saturday night to the scene of a fire at 308 E. High St., just a few doors away from the new Cole County Jail.

Police blocked off Monroe Street between High and McCarty streets as fire personnel accessed the back of the building from a rear alley and parking lot. Smoke could be seen rising from the structure, but it appears the fire has since been brought under control.