The Mari-Elle clothing store in Coevorden, which was hit by a fire early this morning, will keep its doors closed for the time being. The damage is extensive, both from the fire, but also from the smoke and fire extinguishing water.
Owner Marielle Engelage is still stunned and shaken hours after the fire. “Everything has been lost. This was an intense start to the day.”
The fire was discovered around six o’clock by a passerby who saw smoke coming from the building. The fire brigade quickly scaled up to a major fire, due to the location of the store between other old buildings in the center of Coevorden.
Even though the fire brigade quickly brought the fire under control, the damage is considerable, according to Engelage: “The fire started at the central heating boiler, then the entire warehouse burned out.”
And it didn’t stop there in terms of damage to the owner. “Due to the smoke and water, all the clothes in the store itself were lost, so I can get rid of them all.” The store will therefore remain closed for the time being, but it is not yet known exactly how long.
The extent of the damage to the building itself has yet to be inventoried, the store owner reports. “I was able to go inside for a moment to get my accounting, but other than that we have to see how things go.”
Meanwhile, Marielle Engelage is overloaded with responses. “It’s very sweet, all the support I get, it does me good.”
Initial reports stated that a home was located above the store. According to Engelage, this is a surcharge from the building owner. As a result, no people were present in the building during the fire and no one was injured.