Parole and Probation fire under investigation

Missouri State Fire Marshal Randy Sweet and Captain Robert Benn of the Nevada Fire Department examine the charred remains of the office of the Missouri Probation and Parole division of the Department of Corrections in Nevada. The office which is located at 330 S. Prewitt on the west side of Nevada caught fire and burned during the early morning hours Wednesday. According to Nevada Fire Chief Bill Thornton, the first alarm came in at 4:18 a.m. A Nevada police officer was first on the scene and reported fire and smoke coming from the west side of the building. The fire was concentrated in the western or "new building" portion of the structure, and it was a total loss, according to Thornton. The rest of the building had extensive suet accumulation and smoke damage. Thornton said it was "kind of hard to get in there" because of a drop down ceiling and the heavy walled cubicles. Volunteers from Deerfield, Milo and Compton Junction fire departments also responded. Investigators from the State Fire Marshals's Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Nevada police and fire departments worked on the scene throughout the day Wednesday. Photo by Rusty Murry/Daily Mail