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Early morning fire damages businesses, officers on Main Street in KCMO

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An early morning fire damaged several offices and businesses on Main Street Sunday.

Firefighters were called to 43rd and Main Street around 6 a.m.

Upon arrival, the Kansas City Fire Department reported smoke and fire showing from the two-story brick building.

Much of the damage appeared to be centered above the end of the building near 4307 that houses a tobacco and gift store.

Initial reports indicated witnesses saw someone in the apartment overhead, but the fire department reports there were no injuries.

The fire continued into the ceiling space but was contained in about an hour.

When firefighters cleared out, businesses began to clean up.

At Nature's Own Health Food Market, they boxed up perishable goods and loaded them onto a refrigerated truck.

"I hate when anything happens to them or anything in the community so it's not a long recovery process for them and they can get right back to business," Aron Taylor, a customer said.

Water and smoke damage is what the Phoenix Herb Company and other businesses are dealing with on Sunday.

"Right now we're in a state of limbo as far as getting past the shock and the insurance companies will have to let us know what is salvageable and what is not," Todd Altizer, General Managers of the Phoenix Herb Company, said.

They're also trying to figure out when they'll open up for business.

Altizer, whose storefront has been 4305 Main Street since 2005, he knows this: "We are the Phoenix Herb Company we will rise out of these ashes," he said.

Employees with the natural food market said they'll be closed for at least a week.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.