COFFEYVILLE — Flames heavily damaged an abandoned railroad warehouse structure in Coffeyville early Tuesday morning, Aug. 11.

The rear portion of the former Missouri Pacific freight house, located at South Walnut and 12th streets, was destroyed by fire, leaving only the original freight house offices remaining intact.

“It was an intense fire,” said Greg Allen, Coffeyville fire chief. “We couldn’t do much but fight the fire from the outside.”

Allen said a cause of the fire has not been determined.

The property was owned by Watco Companies, which is the parent company of the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad. Tracie VanBecelaere, a Watco spokesperson, said the structure had not been in use by the rail company for many years. However, the facility does hold sentimental value to the company as it was the birthplace of the Watco Companies.

“That’s where it all began,” said VanBecelaere, adding that the late Dick Webb, Watco founder, acquired the building as a shop to rebuild rail cars.

The Coffeyville Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from South Coffeyville, Liberty, and Dearing.