RAGING FIRE CLAIMS
PYRAMID LUMBER COMPANY
Published by the LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO,
Wednesday, May 22, 1968.
Pyramid Lumber Company on Reuter St. in Flat River closed at 5:30 p.m. last
Wednesday, May 15 and at 5:37 p.m. the fire alarm was sounded, bringing Flat River firemen
to the scene of a fire of such intensity they could not handle it themselves. The fire
spread rapidly through the combustible building supplies and billows of black smoke which
poured from the building could be seen for miles.
The fire departments from Bonne Terre, Esther, Elvins and Desloge were summoned to help
keep the fire from spreading to nearby Melton Auto Supply and houses across the street.
Bismarck's fire truck arrived and stood by for other fires that might occur in the Flat
River Area.
Spectators from all over converged on the area to see where the smoke was coming from,
but the intense heat kept them from getting in the way of firemen.
At 6:00 p.m. Manager Nelson Nance was called and by the time he arrived, fire had
consumed most of the building.
Burning on into the night the fire was kept under control but was not completely
extinguished until the next day as firemen pumped water on to the smoldering ruins on into
Thursday evening.
This week the clean up operations started as the Bulldozers began clearing away the
charred debris. Mgr. Nance stated immediate rebuilding will take place as soon as the
clearing work is done and it [is] hoped will be completed in two or three weeks. Nance
also reported that an estimated amount of damage to the company was upwards of $200,000.
Temporary headquarters are being housed across the street from the lumber yard and the
telephone has been installed.
Mr. Nance has announced that his son Murray N. Nance has resigned from his position on
the St. Louis Police Department to take over the managership of the new lumber company. He
also stated that the new lumber company will be under local ownership as the previous
owner sold out to Mr. Nance.
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