A hardware store in Eureka suffered heavy damage due to a fire Saturday afternoon.
S&L Hardware at 1518 East River caught fire, with emergency calls getting reported shortly before 4 pm.
Eureka Fire Chief Luke Westerman says firefighters saw fire coming through the east roofline and smoke billowing from the metal building as they arrived. Crews started their attack quickly, but the fire got into some paint containers and then grew substantially. Because of the combination of fire, heat and smoke damage, most of the contents were damaged or destroyed.
The fire was limited to the entry area. Westerman says the early indication is an unspecified electrical cause. The Office of Kansas State Fire Marshal has been asked to investigate.
Lisa and Shane Schweda of Fall River own the business, with subscription boxes, seasonal items and fundraising partnerships as part of the overall business model. Westerman says the address was previously Stanley’s Hardware before the Schwedas bought the building and began renovations.
