Kevin L. Zadina

    A major fire completely destroyed the Midwest Automotive and NAPA auto parts store Sunday morning, Dec. 30.
     The Seward Fire Department was called to two separate fires at the automotive repair shop at 1355 West Highway 34 early Sunday morning.
     The first call came in a 2:03 a.m. and was called in by the Seward Police Department. The second was reported at 6 a.m. by someone passing the building.
     The fire at 2:03 a.m. was extinguished and the scene was cleared shortly after 4 a.m., according to Seward Fire Chief Dean Fritz.
     The fire was contained to a second-level break room area located above the repair shop. The space was above the boiler room, which heated the entire building.
     The second fire appeared to have resulted from a pair a large explosions that could be felt four to five blocks from the fire scene.
     A Seward police officer drove past Midwest Automotive at approximately 5:45 a.m. and saw nothing wrong at that time.
     Loud noises and vibrations were reported felt by homeowners, and the glow was reported immediately over the Midwest Automotive building around 6 a.m.
     By the time members of the Seward Fire Department arrived on the scene, the entire structure was engulfed, according to Fritz.
     Firefighters were battling the fire at 6:40 in nine-degree temperatures, which froze the water and iced over the entire area. They battled with frozen gear and had to keep water running the entire time.
     By 6:40 a.m. the entire shop area's roof had fallen to the ground, and firefighters were battling large blazes in the NAPA parts store location of the building.
     The Garland and Tamora fire departments were also on the scene.
     State Fire Marshal Investigator Mark Sloup confirmed both fires are currently under investigation. He also added that any explosions or loud noises reported coming from the Midwest Automotive location were unconfirmed as of 10 a.m, Dec. 30.
     Fritz said the many combustibles in the building probably helped spread the fire quickly.
     Midwest Automotive and NAPA parts store owners Brian and Cindy Fehlhafer moved into
    the current location with the NAPA store opening in July 2005 and the automotive repair shop in November 2005.