NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO. (Aug. 21, 2:10 p.m. ET) — Plastic products distributor Regal Plastic Supply re-opened for business Aug. 14 – one day after a fire damaged the firm's North Kansas City headquarters office and destroyed some film inventory.
The blaze began shortly before 6 p.m. Aug. 13 and was under control by 8 p.m. The only employee in the building at the time was able to get out safely, national sales manager Koko Andrews said in a telephone interview.
Company officials said they believe the fire was the result of an electrical malfunction in a room that contained the firm's phone and computer network. No damage estimate was available. Andrews said all of the firm's corporate functions have been moved to another site in North Kansas City.
Ten crews of firefighters responded to the fire, which temporarily closed a nearby bridge.
The film inventory that was destroyed was in a part of the building used by Regal Graphics, Regal's film conversion business. Deliveries to customers were unaffected, Andrews said, as Regal lost less than one full day of service.
Regal operates 12 branches throughout the Midwest and employs 210. The firm distributes sheet, rod, tube, film and other plastic-related products.