Burglar alarm then fire at party store

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - Police were dispatched early Thursday morning to a business in Kalamazoo in response to a burglar alarm and then they called firefighters to extinguish a fire at the structure.

Investigators are not calling the incident suspicious, but they are not ruling anything out as far as a cause to the fire.

The Corkscrew Party Store owner told 24 Hour News 8 he locked up about 1 a.m. Authorities then called him about 3 a.m. to say his business was on fire.

A lot of smoke was billowing from the building at 912 Cork St.

Firefighters doused the fire a few hours later.

Investigators said the owner can still salvage the structure despite the significant damage to the rear of the business.

A neighboring tattoo business sustained some minor damage from the fire.

The party store has been here since the 1950s. The current owner -- Bob Elsman -- said he has been in charge for the past 31 years. He told 24 Hour News 8 he is absolutely devastated.

One firefighter suffered a cut to a hand.