MARYSVILLE – A fire Sunday caused $7,500 damage to a city icon and left volunteers with the annual Marysville Strawberry Festival looking for new offices.
Police believe someone may have accidentally set fire outside the red caboose at the corner of 4th Street and Cedar Avenue, officials said.
The fire was reported about 5 p.m., Marysville Fire District spokeswoman Kristen Thorstenson said. Fire investigators ruled the fire’s cause couldn’t be immediately determined.
The caboose is owned by the city and leased to Maryfest, Inc., the non-profit that puts on the annual festival and promotes the city in parade around the Northwest.
“It was really hard just because of the all the work that everybody’s done,” strawberry festival vice president Angie Miller said.
Some festival materials were damaged, including historic posters that may be ruined, she said. The festival has been held almost every year since the idea was first conceived in 1932.
Insurance adjusters will determine the best course of action for the caboose. In the meantime, festival officials are asking for help in finding a new place to put its offices.
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