(Malvern, Iowa) – Firefighters from Malvern and at least a dozen other area departments were on the scene until just before midnight, Monday, battling a large a structure fire in Malvern. The call about a blaze at Mulholland Grocery, 409 Main St. in Malvern, was sent out at around 5:45-p.m. According to reports, employees noticed the fire and tried to put it out with extinguishers, but it became too much to handle. After Malvern Fire arrived on the scene, they quickly requested Red Oak’s ladder truck and one other ladder, in addition to the departments and personnel on hand.

Additional tanker support was being provided by crews from Hastings, Silver City, Glenwood, Macedonia, Carson and Sidney.  Henderson, Randolph, Shenandoah and Oak Township Fire were also on the scene. Pacific Junction’s 3,000 gallon tanker was requested, along with another tanker with 5,000 gallons of water.

Firefighters were in a defensive mode, trying to prevent flames from spreading to adjacent buildings. Authorities confirmed at 7:30-p.m., that the roof and second floor of the structure had collapsed. Crews were evacuated from the roof at around 7:15-p.m. when the danger of collapse became imminent. Crews were also attempting to slow down the amount of water being used from hydrants to lessen the strain on the city’s water system.

There were no injuries reported. Malvern Grocery is a fourth generation full service grocery store, specializing in premium quality meats, homemade fresh and smoked sausages and other homemade items.