Sturgis Fire Investigation Continues, Business Plans To Rebuild
By: Shalah Sasse
Updated: November 21, 2012
The Union County Fire Marshal is still trying to figure out what caused Tuesday night's massive fire in downtown Sturgis. It happened at 5th Street Signs. On this Thanksgiving eve, the co-owners say they have a lot to be thankful for. The Breeden family is thanking the Pizza Hut worker next door, who helped Floyd Breeden get out of the building.
5th Street Signs is a staple in Sturgis. But many of the signs and pictures turned into this.
"Very scary. My daughter calling me screaming I can't find my Daddy and the building is on fire and it's a little scary," Co-owner, Michelle Breeden said.
Breeden says her husband Floyd was cutting vinyl, and had no idea the place was on fire until he heard someone yell.
Breeden says her husband had an angel with him. She says a Pizza Hut employee next door saved his life. Robin Powell saw the smoke, called for help, and ran inside to get Floyd out.
"It looked terrible. The whole place was just lit up. I mean the whole sky and everything was just lit up. I was more worried about the Pizza Hut catching on fire because I didn't want to lose my job too," Robin Powell said.
Crews arrived to smoke and flames in the back of 5th Street Signs. They quickly called in other crews from Union County, but the fire spread to the front of the building. Fire crews were able to contain it to one building.
"Oh it's going to be devastating to Sturgis I mean everybody gets their signs made and t-shirts made at Floyd's and I was going over there today to get shirts made. They're just family to everybody here. Without them it won't run right for a little while, but they'll get it straight I hope," Powell said.
Powell says she is not a hero, she was just being a friend.
"Thanks a million. I mean she's a good lady, very good lady," Floyd Breeden said.
"This is devastating. But I'd be more devastated if he wasn't here so," Michelle Breeden said.
The Breeden family says their business is a total loss, but they plan to rebuild. No one was hurt in the fire. The Kentucky State Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating, and says a cause of the fire may not be released until next week.
5th Street Signs is a staple in Sturgis. But many of the signs and pictures turned into this.
"Very scary. My daughter calling me screaming I can't find my Daddy and the building is on fire and it's a little scary," Co-owner, Michelle Breeden said.
Breeden says her husband Floyd was cutting vinyl, and had no idea the place was on fire until he heard someone yell.
Breeden says her husband had an angel with him. She says a Pizza Hut employee next door saved his life. Robin Powell saw the smoke, called for help, and ran inside to get Floyd out.
"It looked terrible. The whole place was just lit up. I mean the whole sky and everything was just lit up. I was more worried about the Pizza Hut catching on fire because I didn't want to lose my job too," Robin Powell said.
Crews arrived to smoke and flames in the back of 5th Street Signs. They quickly called in other crews from Union County, but the fire spread to the front of the building. Fire crews were able to contain it to one building.
"Oh it's going to be devastating to Sturgis I mean everybody gets their signs made and t-shirts made at Floyd's and I was going over there today to get shirts made. They're just family to everybody here. Without them it won't run right for a little while, but they'll get it straight I hope," Powell said.
Powell says she is not a hero, she was just being a friend.
"Thanks a million. I mean she's a good lady, very good lady," Floyd Breeden said.
"This is devastating. But I'd be more devastated if he wasn't here so," Michelle Breeden said.
The Breeden family says their business is a total loss, but they plan to rebuild. No one was hurt in the fire. The Kentucky State Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating, and says a cause of the fire may not be released until next week.
