Fire near St. Thomas destroys storage facility

A storage facility was totally destroyed after a fire Monday night in Cole County.

The fire in the 11900 block of Lower Bottom Road near St. Thomas was called in around 10:05 p.m., according to Cole County Fire Protection District reports.

When crews arrived, the building was fully engulfed in flames and the roof had caved in. There was also the possibility that the fire could spread to a nearby home.

Fire crews called in Osage Fire Protection District to bring in one tanker for water support.

Firefighters had the blaze under control shortly after 10:30 p.m. No injuries were reported.

Two tractors and a forklift inside the building were destroyed in the fire.

The cause for the fire is undetermined due to the extent of the damage. However, the fire was first noticed by the property owner, coming from the front of the building, about an hour after one of the tractors had been put inside.