[font=Verdana]Downtown [/font][font=Verdana]Prattville[/font][font=Verdana] [/font][font=Verdana]Alabama[/font][font=Verdana] has been out of sorts for a week, working around the scene of a major fire. [/font]

[font=Verdana]Now, the Cobb building, gutted by fire, is ready for demolition. [/font]

[font=Verdana]Anxious merchants want to know when work crews will get started. [/font]

[font=Verdana]Not much is left of the [/font][font=Verdana]Cobb[/font][font=Verdana] [/font][font=Verdana]Building[/font][font=Verdana]. What fire didn't destroy, man will soon take down.[/font]

[font=Verdana]"As quickly as possible, we want them to get it down." [/font]

[font=Verdana]Mayor Jim Byard says demolition should start Friday. [/font]

[font=Verdana]Until it comes down, two other businesses surrounding the building can't move back in.[/font]

[font=Verdana]Mayor Byard says, "Those guys need to be back in their building and the sidewalk up front. So, we have some public safety issues. We are ready to move along." [/font]

[font=Verdana]Investigators can't get inside to determine what started the blaze until the walls are removed.[/font]

[font=Verdana]"The walls are in danger of collapsing. There is nothing supporting the walls because all the tresses were burned." [/font]

[font=Verdana]The building is 107 years old. [/font]

[font=Verdana]Mayor Byard says they hope to save a piece of history by salvaging and selling the brick.[/font]

[font=Verdana]"They will use cherrypickers and remove the brick by hand."[/font]

[font=Verdana]Mayor Byard hopes the demolition and clean-up are complete in time for [/font][font=Verdana]Prattville[/font][font=Verdana]'s Cityfest. That's in three weeks. [/font]

[font=Verdana]The mayor says cost is a private issue because the buildings owner will pay for the demolition. [/font]

[font=Verdana]There is still no word on what will be done with the property once it's cleared. [/font]