CARROLLTON, MO (KCTV) -
A business that helps others and a title company were gutted from a fire Monday morning in downtown Carrollton.
Stiff firewalls kept the soaring flames from surging to other buildings. The fire was reported about 3 a.m. and firefighters remained on the scene for almost five hours.
The cause is under investigation. The flames apparently started in a building called "Home of my Father," which provides items to people in need.
The flames spread to a title company, which was destroyed. But John Bittiker's hardware store survived because of the fire wall.
"If it hadn't been there, the rest of the block wouldn't be here because it pretty well kept the fire contained to the two buildings that burned the most," he said.
Chief Curtis Shields said losing the businesses will hurt Carrollton, but he is hopeful they will be built or replaced so that "we keep the integrity of our square."
There is no word on an amount of damage, which was extensive.
KCTV5's Jonathan Carter contributed to this report.
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