Fire investigation continues after downtown Columbia’s McNally’s pub catches fire
Madison Stuerman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Sections of some downtown Columbia were closed Tuesday morning after a fire occurred at McNally’s Irish Pub.
ABC 17 News saw smoke visible from N Sixth Street in Columbia just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. A Boone County Joint Communications notification was sent out at 9:18 a.m. alerting about Broadway at Sixth Street being closed due to the fire.
In total, 41 firefighters responded to the scene. Columbia police officers were also on the scene.
The Columbia Fire Department said crews arrived within three minutes and immediately went to work. Firefighters were forced to cut through the roof to vent smoke and gain access to the fire, allowing them to get the flames under control within 20 minutes.
“It’s basically opening up a hole to make sure all that smoke gets out and clears the area so we can see better,” Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez said.
While crews were putting out hot spots, Columbia police officers and detectives were also on scene for several hours. An ABC 17 News reporter saw detectives leaving the bar around noon with evidence bags.
The pub’s liquor and business licenses expired on Monday, according to City of Columbia records. However, according to the Department of Public Safety, businesses still have until July 31 to renew those licenses.
Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon told ABC 17 News the business didn’t have a county liquor license for 2024 or a renewal for this year.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by Columbia Fire Marshals.
The Columbia Police Department told ABC 17 News in an email that police help out with fire calls as needed. Mostly, helping with clearing the area and making sure everything is safe. However, the department declined to comment on the investigation.
The pub shared a post on Facebook saying it was a “tough day” but that no one was hurt.
Check back for updates.