A major fire Sunday knocked down a portion of downtown Marshfield. It happened at the Community Thrift Store, shortly after 2 p.m. in the 200 block of East Jefferson. Firefighters say it may have started in an alley, but it quickly threatened other businesses and homes.

The fire appeared to have started out small but quickly grew into one that drew a crowd. It burned down the Community Thrift Store, packed with clothes and furniture, but it also threatened other nearby businesses and even apartments.

"Where will my life be tomorrow?” wondered one woman who was not allowed back into her apartment.

There were about six apartments that were close to the fire. A concrete firewall in the apartments kept them safe form the flames, but there was plenty of smoke and water damage.

“That's better than everything burning down, I guess," said another tenant.

John Cooper, Fire Marshal for Marshfield Fire, told KSPR the flames made it difficult to get inside. Firefighters from across the area came to help put out the flames—Lebanon,
Elkland, and Strafford to name a few. The fire went on for hours. In fact, the fire marshal says it may smolder for a few more days.

“Normally you just don't put people in that danger," said Cooper.

No one was injured, however, the downtown area suffered a great deal of damage.

"The thrift shop is on the ground,” said Cooper.

Cooper says it could take two more days before firefighters actually put the flames out all the way, that's when investigators can really start digging in to find out the cause. As for the tenants of the nearby apartments, they were not allowed back in Sunday night and were offered help from the American Red Cross.