Fire in Wilson destroys opera house, no injuries

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WILSON, Kan. (AP) -- Wilson Police Chief Mike Schoenhofer says a fire that destroyed the historic Wilson Opera House started in an auto repair shop.

Schoenhofer says the fire was reported about 2:30 a.m. Friday by a resident. When firefighters arrived, the garage was engulfed in flames and the east wall of the opera house was on fire. When firefighters got the blaze under control, the century-old opera house was gutted.

The fire also destroyed a physician's office. No one was injured.

The opera house was filled with historical records and photographs chroniciling the history of Ellsworth County. It was on the Kansas register of historic places.

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Information from: The Salina Journal, http://www.saljournal.com