Sedalia Fire Department Battles Weekend Fire

Early Sunday Morning, December 8, 2024, the Sedalia Fire Department battled a significant fire in the 400 block of Main Street, according to a news release on the Sedalia Fire Department's Facebook page.

The Sedalia Fire Department responded to smoke at 419 W. Main Street after 2:30 a.m. CST Sunday. Firefighters found smoke showing on their arrival, and the first arriving apparatus began a search of the building for occupants that might be inside. The second apparatus on scene entered the building adjoining 419 W. Main, 421 W. Main Street, trying to locate the fire.

Crews found fire on the ground floor of 421 W. Main and extinguished it. Fire had breached the second floor, and firefighters could see fire above them. Firefighters attacked a well-involved fire on the second floor. After breaching the building's roof, the fire grew and advanced significantly, requiring firefighters to leave the building and fight the fire defensively.

Moving to a defensive operation, all department personnel and mutual aid from the Pettis County Fire Protection District were called to help battle the fire.

The fire was considered under control just after 5:30 a.m. CST, and Pettis County Fire Protection District crews were released. Sedalia Fire Department crews remained at the scene for most of Sunday, putting water in areas of the building that are not safe for personnel to enter.

Three occupants of the building were transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center. No firefighters or first responders were injured.

22 Firefighters from Sedalia fought the blaze, assisted by 14 from the Pettis Country Fire Protection District. Additionally, the Sedalia Police Department, Pettis County Sheriff's Department, Pettis County Ambulance District, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri State Fire Marshall, and utility companies assisted at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Missouri Fire Marshalls' Office.