Cause remains unknown in LF blaze
Only the boarded up doors and windows at Iron Hill Pawn Shop in Little Falls give an indication to the fire that heavily damaged the business Sunday night.
The walls still stand at the building on the 100 block of First Street Northeast, which housed the pawn shop and Bill's Decorating and Contracting. But the fire, reported about 10 p.m. Sunday, caved in the rubber membrane roof, which damaged items in both businesses and started spot fires throughout the building.
A woman who answered the phone number written on one of the boarded windows Tuesday afternoon, but didn't give her name, said the future plans of the business aren't known.
"When we figure that out we'll let you know," she said.
The Iron Hills Pawn Shop and Bill's Decorating and Contracting in downtown Little Falls, which were heavily damaged in a fire Sunday night, sat empty Tuesday with plywood blocking the accesses to the building.
Brainerd Dispatch/Jennifer Stockinger
Fire investigators also are unsure of what started the fire. The state fire marshal's office is investigating and Little Falls Fire Chief Mike Nieman on Tuesday said insurance company investigators will be visiting the site on Thursday.
Nieman said once the investigation is complete work will begin on making sure the building is safe.
"We're going to have to see what comes out of it when we get the roof out of there," Nieman said. "It's quite a mess inside."
Until then, barricades have been placed around the building to keep onlookers at bay, Nieman added.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.