A downtown Lake City business experienced heavy damage Monday afternoon after a fire erupted in the building’s basement. The Lake City Fire Department responded to Blair’s Artistic Touches & Design in the 100 block of North Center Street at approximately 1 p.m. According to an initial investigation, the fire started when a dust collector in the basement overheated and ignited airborne sawdust. Witnesses reported seeing a fireball shoot up an elevator shaft in the building. Firefighters were able to douse the blaze relatively quickly but did need to remain on scene for approximately four hours to monitor for hot spots and flare-ups. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident. The Rockwell City Fire Department assisted at the scene.
