Fire at Ideal Grocery has been ruled accidental

Black smoke poured out of Ideal Grocery store early Thursday morning.

The long standing business is located near 27th and Randolph Streets.

Fire Inspector Don Gross says the fire has been ruled accidental. He says it started in the compressor room of the grocery store.

Inspector Gross says they will have to call in extra resources to continue investigating.

A crane will be required to pull the compressors out of the building. Mechanical and electrical engineers will then work with Inspector Gross to investigate the compressors.

LFR has confirmed there were no injuries in the fire. LFR considers Ideal Grocery Store to be a total loss.

Crews were called just after 2:00 a.m., but witnesses on scene say that they walked out of their homes at about 1:00 a.m. and saw tall flames inside the building.

Crews say the fire had been going for some time before they arrived.

LFR had 2/3rds of their resources fighting this fire this morning. Crews continue to put water on hot spots, but they say they have the fire under control.

Witnesses who live in that area say they are heartbroken. Ideal Grocery store is the oldest grocery store in Lincoln since 1920.