FOWLER - A fire that destroyed two businesses and damaged a third in downtown Fowler on Saturday appears to have been accidental, a fire official said.
"We haven't talked to the owner (of the business) yet, but right now it appears to be purely accidental," Dallas Township/Fowler Fire Department Chief Vern Feldpausch said Sunday.
Firefighters from 14 departments battled the blaze, many of whom shuttled water to the scene from nearby communities because the water tower a short distance away couldn't sustain such heavy use, Feldpausch said.
A St.Johns firefighter was taken to a hospital with a minor foot injury, but no other injuries were reported, he said. People in the stores and a family who lived in an apartment above one of the storefronts escaped unharmed, he added.
Becker's Bridal Mother's Studio and the Kandle Shack on South Main Street were completely destroyed in the blaze. Quality Carpet sustained major smoke damage, Feldspausch said.
"All three (businesses) were connected," the chief said. "A fire wall stopped it from getting into the third one, but smoke damage was inevitable. Old businesses like that, they're just like a matchbook."
The blaze apparently started in the candle shop, he said.
In Facebook postings, the bridal business said its flagship store across the street was not affected by the fire and that all wedding gowns are undamaged.
The blaze broke out around 10:20 a.m., Feldspausch said. Firefighters were on the scene until about midnight and used nearly 500,000 gallons of water, he said. They were back at the scene on Sunday morning to make sure the blaze didn't rekindle.
Community members brought food and water for firefighters and quickly jumped in to help the family of four displaced by the fire.
By early Sunday afternoon, a GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $12,000 for Corey and Erika Feldpausch and their two sons, according to the website.
Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.
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