CENTERVILLE, IOWA -- Update 4:10 p.m.
Officials are calling the fire at the Centerville Tent and Awning Company store a total loss. Crews arrived after a call at about 11:15 Wednesday morning. Portions of Highway 5 were closed off to drivers as crews battled the blaze.
Centerville Fire Chief Mike Bogle says the fire began in the back of the store but the cause of the fire is unknown.
"The fire spread very quickly," Bogle said. "The amount of fuel load inside this building, lots of fabrics and leathers and all kinds of things like you would imagine in a fabric or upholstery store. It spread throughout the ceiling."
The builiding is estimated to be at least 90 years old. The owner of the building an one employee escaped unharmed. Rick Kauzlarich's father owns the store and says he's happy that everyone came out safe.
Fire chief Bogle said the wind also helped in putting out the flames.
"The weather was to our advantage the way the wind was coming out of the north blowing the majority of our smoke to the south."
The fire marshall is still conducting an investigation into the blaze.
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A Wednesday morning fire destroys one Heartland business.
Fire crews from Centerville, Mystic and Moravia battled the blaze at the Centerville Tent and Awning Company.
No injuries were reported and the building is deamed a total loss.
KTVO's James Buechele was on the scene and will have more details as they become available.
Video above was provided to KTVO by Paul Giarratano.
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