WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and RadioUPDATE: Cause determined in downtown Quincy building fire

UPDATE: Cause determined in downtown Quincy building fire

QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -- Malfunctioning clothes drying equipment gets the blame for a fire that heavily damaged a downtown Quincy building.

The fire started just after 11 pm Thursday, at the building on 3rd and Hampshire, which is home to several offices and businesses.

According to investigators the fire started accidentally, in the lower level of the Peppco offices, most of the damage was isolated to the lower, northwest corner of the building.

But on the upper level, where the Two-20-Eight youth ministry program is held, the gapping hole burned through the floor and the charred insulation dangling from the ceiling show the fires path as it quickly spread.

Luckily, firefighters were able to contain the fire and minimize damage to much of the building.

"We're in the process right now of looking to see what we can salvage, and it's not been determined what we can or can not, so we're in the process of doing that now," says Brian Hutchinson, Grandview Church Youth Minister.  "You know, praise God no one was here, no one got hurt, everyone is fine and healthy. Things can be replaced, people can not."

He says the church offered a weekly youth ministry program and weekend activities at the Two-20-Eight building.

Hutchinson says those services will be relocated, at least temporarily.

"We'll probably meet at our facility down on 10th and Cedar," says Hutchinson.  "There is more than enough room there for us now, and we'll probably meet down there, I just don't know where."

The attached, neighboring building, also sustained some smoke and water damage.

Owner Mark Clingingsmith says his building needs some clean-up, but despite the damage he's going on with business as usual.

"We'll have it cleaned up or do the clean up ourselves and stuff," says Clingingsmith.  "Business is still going, we've got the guys on a job this morning. We're trying to stay on top of things so we don't get behind, because one day out can put us behind pretty quick."

The Third and Hampshire building is owned by Dan Griffin.

Along with the Two-20-Eight ministry, the building also housed several offices and the Peppco uniform company.