An early morning fire that destroyed a northeast Kansas grain cooperative also damaged several downtown buildings and warped Union Pacific railroad tracks nearby.
KMAN reports the fire at the co-op in St. Marys started around 2 a.m. Friday. Pottawatomie County fire supervisor Bruce Brazzle says the blaze appears suspicious because the co-op was in the process of being demolished and there was no power to the building.
Brazzle says several businesses along Main Street sustained melted windows and roof damage that could cost millions of dollars to fix, but no estimates were immediately available.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Duffy Says Small Airports Will Close If DHS Shutdown Continues 
US Home Insurance Prices Set to Keep Rising With Severe Weather 
FAA Overhauls Safety Rules for Pilots After Close Calls 
Live Nation Faces ‘Fed Up’ States After 16 Years of Battles 
Want to stay up to date?
Get the latest insurance news
sent straight to your inbox.