Burlington, IA (May 22, 2025) — A Thursday afternoon fire caused significant damage to a longtime Burlington business, Musicians Pro Shop, located at 800 Maple Street. The Burlington Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 4:35 p.m. after receiving reports of a commercial structure fire.
Firefighters arrived on scene within four minutes and discovered flames along the rear of the one-story storage portion of the building. The structure, a 4,800-square-foot two-story masonry building with an attached single-story storage unit, dates back to 1868 and is owned by Joel and Patricia Kipp.
According to Fire Marshal Robert Berndt, the building was occupied at the time of the fire, but all patrons were able to evacuate safely. Mr. Kipp and a deputy from the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office made early attempts to suppress the fire with an extinguisher before crews arrived.
Firefighters began with an offensive attack, but a roof collapse in the storage area prompted a shift to defensive tactics. The fire was under control by 8:30 p.m. and no injuries were reported.
While the two-story portion of the structure sustained smoke and water damage, the attached one-story storage section is considered a total loss. Fire officials confirmed there were no working smoke alarms inside the building at the time of the incident.
The fire originated in combustible materials placed against the building’s exterior. Although the cause has been ruled undetermined, it is not considered suspicious.
Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including West Burlington Fire Department, Mediapolis Fire Department, Danville Fire Department, Alliant Energy, IAAP, Superior Ambulance, Burlington Police Department, and the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.
Further updates regarding the incident will be provided by the Fire Marshal’s office as the investigation continues.