News: Abbotsford - Kramer's IGA fire (1982)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Colby, Kramer

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (07 December 1982)

ABBOTSFORD - a fire which started about 9 P.M. Monday destroyed Kramer's IGA Store, Abbotsford.

The store, located at 206 N Fourth St., was considered a total loss, but no dollar estimate of loss was available this morning.

According to Bill Colby, Abbotsford fire chief, the fire, which was reported by a store clerk, started in the northeast corner of the building, near the bakery area. The store was open at the time and customers and employees escaped without injury.

"There were (grocery) carts standing all over the place, where people left them in a hurry," Colby said today. "The smoke went through the building pretty fast."

Cause of the fire has not been determined yet, however, Howard Kramer, store owner, has requested that a state fire marshal be called in.

Kramer said today that there is a grocery storage area near the bakery, and the fire could have been started there.

"we know it started in the northeast corner of the building, near the bakery area," said Colby. "When we get rested up we're going to go out and take a look at it."

The Abbotsford Fire Department was at the scene until 6 a.m. today.

The east end of the building sustained heavy fire damage, according to Colby, was. Flames also spread through the roof of the metal building, destroying merchandise stored in the attic.

An adjacent building, Kramer's Family Merchandise Center was not damaged, and is open for business today, Kramer said.

The store was built in its present location in the 1950's, and has been added to periodically, Colby said.

Kramer said today he probably will rebuild, but it is still too early to make a decision.

"We haven't made a definite decision yet," Kramer said this morning. "We'll wait to see what the insurance adjusters say."