MOUNT VERNON — An early morning fire has destroyed two Mt. Vernon businesses, with the cold impacting firefighters’ efforts to put out the blaze.

Mount Vernon firefighters responded around 12:30 a.m. to the building on Broadway that houses the Sears Hometown Store and USA Mattress Outlet.

Upon their arrival, Mt. Vernon fire crews found the building completely engulfed in flames and immediately called the Jefferson County Fire Department for mutual aid to help fight the fire that started in the back of the building and had quickly spread.

Crews battled the blaze for about four hours, with the Illinois Department of Transportation being called out to deal with ice forming on Broadway from the water used to put out the fire.

The building is a complete loss, with damage costs estimated to be at least $1 million. The Sears Hometown Store is owned by Alan Stockman and USA Mattress Outlet is owned by his wife Lisa Stockman. No other buildings were damaged.

The state fire marshal was called to investigate the cause of the fire.

No one was seriously injured, but one investigator did slip and fall on the ice created by the water used on the flames.