Lee’s Summit Hy-Vee store briefly evacuated for fire Wednesday afternoon

Fire damaged the front of a Hy-Vee grocery store in Lee’s Summit on Wednesday, causing the store to be evacuated for part of the afternoon, according to authorities.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department responded to the fire at the store at 301 N.E. Rice Road about 4:30 p.m. Witnesses saw the fire next to the north entrance, and store employees tried unsuccessfully to put it out with a fire extinguisher, according to a statement from the fire department.

The fire spread across the wood-shingled facade of the store to the roof and also damaged a nearby catering van. Hy-Vee employees evacuated the store.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 5:15 p.m. No injuries were reported.

The fire did not enter the store, which opened again later in the day.

The fire apparently began near some cardboard boxes storing pumpkins outside in front of the store.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.