A fire on Thursday afternoon caused significant damage to Musicians Pro Shop, a longtime business located at 800 Maple Street in Burlington. The Burlington Fire Department responded to the scene at 4:35 p.m. after receiving reports of a commercial structure fire.
Crews arrived within four minutes and found flames coming from the rear of the building’s single-story storage section. The property, which dates back to 1868, includes a two-story masonry structure and an attached one-story storage unit. The building is owned by Joel and Patricia Kipp.
At the time of the fire, the business was occupied, but everyone inside was able to evacuate safely. The owner and a Des Moines County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to control the fire with a portable extinguisher before firefighters arrived.
Fire crews began an aggressive interior attack but had to pull back after the roof of the storage area collapsed. The fire was eventually brought under control around 8:30 p.m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The two-story section of the building suffered smoke and water damage, while the attached storage area is considered a total loss. Fire officials confirmed that there were no working smoke alarms in the building at the time.
Investigators say the fire started in combustible materials placed against the building’s exterior. While the exact cause remains undetermined, authorities say there is no evidence of foul play.
Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including fire departments from West Burlington, Mediapolis, and Danville, along with Alliant Energy, IAAP, Superior Ambulance, the Burlington Police Department, and the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident remains under investigation.
