Fire causes extensive damage at strip mall

The Topeka Fire Department estimated a blaze did $150,000 in damages after breaking out early Monday at a two-story strip mall housing multiple businesses at 3124 S.W. 29th. No one was hurt.

The fire's cause was undetermined and remained under investigation, said Topeka Fire Marshal Michael G. Martin.

He indicated the blaze began inside Grog's Games at the northwest corner of the strip mall, which stands cater-cornered from Brookwood Shopping Center on the north side of S.W. 29th Street, about a half-block west of its intersection with S.W. Oakley Avenue.

Firefighters were called shortly after 1:15 a.m. to the scene, where they found light smoke and flames coming from Grog's Games, Martin said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, keeping it from spreading to other parts of the building, he said.

Grog's Games was the only business to sustain fire or water damage, while other occupants of the strip mall sustained varying degrees of smoke damage, Martin said.

Damages were estimated at $100,000 to the structure and $50,000 to its contents, he said.

Most of the building's businesses were closed Monday afternoon. Signs indicated that in addition to Grog's Games, the strip mall houses businesses that include Edward Jones Investments, C2 Sea Scuba, Moon Spa, Campus Barbers & Style Shop, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and American National Insurance.

Working smoke detectors were found inside the strip mall's structures, Martin said.

He said the fire department was assisted at the scene by the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office, Kansas Gas Service and Westar Energy.

Tim Hrenchir, tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com