Kauffmann Jewelry Burns

HNN was on the scene, which was occupied by six fire engines, and 5 police cruisers, as well as Fire Chief Greg Fuller.

After entering the building, as smoke poured from the front, Fuller and his firemen were able to find out several pieces of key information.

"We've knocked out the main body of the fire," Fuller told HNN.   "There is an area under the stairs that flashed, (meaning it got so hot it exploded).  That was what the officer heard explode.

"It's in the confined voids of the building," Fuller said.

This meant that the fire was in the walls, and they didn't know how long it would take to pinpoint all of it, and that was next on their agenda.

"It could be really bad," Fuller said.  "We have to find all of it, and that's tough right now."

After almost an hour, the HFD had contained the fire and put it out.

"They've got it all under control now," Fuller said.  "They are going to have major water and smoke damage downstairs."

The fire didn't hurt any of its neighbors, however, the Keith-Albee Teatre suffered from the smoke.  At press time, the Keith-Albee would be closed down for awhile to get rid of the smoke in the building.

Nothing has been found to distinguish what caused the fire, but most of the damage was at Kauffmann's.

Mr. Sarka, the owner of Kauffmann's, said he didn't know what could have started the blaze.

"I don't have any idea," Sarka said.  "There's a lot of damage down there."

HNN will follow-up this story as soon as we have more information.