(KNOD-Joel McCall) A fire in Harrison County spread damage to four downtown businesses in the city of Woodbine Thursday. According to Woodbine Mayor William Hutcheson, the fire began in the rear portion of the flower shop. Hutcheson says 14 fire departments came to help tackle the blaze,

“The flower shop has two store fronts and we had at least 14 departments all of Harrison County, Panama, Portsmouth, Denison and Harlan. I hope I didn’t miss anyone because there was a good array of firefighters and equipment here yesterday afternoon.”

The fire spread quickly from the flower shop to three other businesses on Walker Street,

“There was a joining business, it was the senior center south of the flower shop. That was involved in some degree of damage but I am not sure what it is. On the north side of the two store fronts was the corn palace, our local tavern.”

Hutcheson said the damage to the Corn Palace was extensive and they will not reopen any time soon. The Mayor says the city was full of firefighters and other volunteers working together,

“There were people all over evacuating the adjoining stores and getting people out of harms way. We had a lot of community activity helping where they could. As I said we had 14 departments and there were a lot of efforts to haul water because the water supply was a concern. Businesses who had tankers farm operators anything that could haul water they brought it in. Some departments had their tankers also. It was amazing to see the amount of help we had to try and control what we were battling.”

The timing couldn’t have been worse as the city prepares for their 25^th annual Woodbine Applefest. Hutcheson says the festival will go on as planned with a few minor changes,

“It appears the one city block 4^th to 5^th Street on Walker Street will be unavailable for tomorrow. But the Applefest will go on and we will have to rearrange some of the activities. It will still take place.”

As far as the fire,  no dollar amount of damage was given but Harrison County EMA reported a firefighter was injured and transported to an area hospital during the fight. The State Fire Marshall will arrive in Woodbine today to assess the situation.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest Thursday, Sept. 26th of 35-year-old Robert L. Atkinson of Atlantic on a Cass County Warrant for 5th Degree Theft (shoplifting).  Atkinson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.