A historic building in Hermann was ravaged by a major fire.
While the blaze caused severe damage to local businesses, the community is breathing a sigh of relief as there were no major injuries.
“We were always worried about this downtown area because the buildings are so close to each other," Hermann Fire Chief Kevin Speckhals told KSDK.
He said the fire was one of the biggest fires of his 33-year career, and a loss for the community he loves.
“It’s just another, just another empty spot. Hermann is a tourist town. So it's just a void that is going to have to be filled somehow," Speckhals said.
He said the fire started on the first floor, but the exact cause is still unknown. During the intense response, one firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion, but fortunately, no one else was seriously hurt. Now, the focus is on coming together.
