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Wayne White | Managing Editor
OSAGE CITY—When facing adversity, community spirit seems to
shine the brightest. According to Osage City Police Chief Fred Nech,
it was shining brightly Sunday as citizens helped merchants clear
stores of merchandise thought to be in danger from the fire burning
at 529 and 531 Market Street.
Nech said as the fire burned at Mink Photography and Ramblin’
Rose, stores and businesses on either side of the fire began to
clear buildings of stock and equipment. An estimated 75 bystanders
immediately came to their aid and assisted. Lines of people carried
furniture, electronic equipment and pharmaceuticals from the stores
and piled the items across the street. Several businesses loaded
stock on trailers.
“They really put their heart into trying to save those local
businesses’ inventory,” Nech said. “It was kind
of shocking. It really made you realize why you like living in Osage
City.”
“I just didn’t think they could move that much stuff
out of stores in that short of time. But, by golly, they did,”
he said. “It was like an army of ants. People grabbing couches,
one on each end, and ladies carrying boxes.”
Nech said police officers oversaw the impromptu transport brigades
and stood guard over pharmaceutical drugs set on the sidewalk after
being removed from Schroeder Drugs, 533 Market. Officers were also
mindful of citizens’ safety, allowing them only as close to
the fire fighting activities as was deemed safe. He noted that initially
the most intense part of the fire was in the rear of the buildings,
which allowed access to the buildings’ front doors.
Once the threat of fire was over, “All these citizens moved
stuff back in,” Nech said. “It all remained out there
until we determined it was safe, and then they moved it back in.”
Nech said he also saw some firefighters who were not involved in
fighting the fire, helping businesses move computers and equipment
to safe locations.
Businesses that cleared out inventory and equipment included Ramblin’
Rose before it burned, Schroeder Drugs, Osage Hardware, Furniture
Loft, McCoy’s Radio Shack, Burns, Burns, Walsh and Walsh law
offices and The Osage County Herald-Chronicle.
Nech said although police watched over the merchandise removal,
he had received several reports of people in possession of electronic
equipment that did not belong to them. He said he is reluctant to
accuse anyone of theft until more evidence is gathered.
“We’re asking [the businesses] to inventory before we
go around accusing people of stealing iPods,” Nech said. |
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