A fire destroys a building in the heart of a small community north of Tulsa

A small Tulsa County community is without a grocery store after an early Thursday morning fire destroyed the historic building that housed it. <br/><br/>The fire started before 3 AM Wednesday in downtown

Thursday, February 10th 2005, 5:46 am

By: News On 6

A small Tulsa County community is without a grocery store after an early Thursday morning fire destroyed the historic building that housed it.

The fire started before 3 AM Wednesday in downtown Sperry, which is just north of Tulsa. News on 6 reporter Omar Villafranca says several residents told the News on 6, it's a shame.

The front of the store was built in 1908 and now it's just a pile of burnt rubble. When Sperry firefighters arrived, they saw flames shooting out of the roof. Smoke could be seen for miles.

The Sperry Fire Department called for backup and Tulsa, Turley and Skiatook crews showed up. Firefighters were able to control the blaze after an hour and a half, but by that time, most of the walls were burnt through and roof was gone. The building is a total loss.

Sperry residents will now have to leave town to fill their pantry. Sperry resident Helen Eastwood: "It's awfully close you know to run out your front door and into the back door. Always need something."

Since Sperry is in a rural area, fire crews said they trouble getting water out to the fire. They had to fill trucks up with water a few blocks away, then drive back to the fire.

Investigators don't know what caused the fire, but the state Fire Marshalâ€™s office is investigating to find out why this historic building burnt down.