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2008 gets off to fiery start for CVFD
By Courtney Burleson, Managing Editor
The Columbus Volunteer Fire Department has had a busy start to 2008.
Firefighters responded to two large fires, within a 48-hour period last week.
On Jan. 3 CVFD firefighters responded to a structure/trash fire in the 300 block of Canal Street in Alleyton.
According to reports, firefighters arrived on the scene around 1:49 p.m. to find an abandoned house and detached building completely engulfed in flames.
"It was a total loss," said CVFD Chief Bob Walla.
Responding to the scene were three units and 20 firefighters.
Onlookers watched as firefighters worked for nearly two hours Thursday afternoon against a strong south wind to contain the fire to its area of origin.
"The fire spread a little into the neighbor's yard but we were able to keep it from spreading to the house," said Walla.
The Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department was called for mutual aid for use of its water tanker. Black Creek Drilling of Columbus also provided a front-end loader so firefighters could push dirt over the fire.
Chief Walla said firefighters revisited the scene that night and again Jan. 6 to check on smoke and smoldering fires underneath the dirt.
The cause of the fire was undetermined as of press time. Chief Walla said the fire is considered suspicious and the investigation is ongoing.
There were no injuries from the fire.
The following day, Jan. 4 firefighters responded to a commercial fire around 11:27 a.m. along Interstate 10 at about the 704-mile marker.
Thick smoke and huge black clouds could be seen from the interstate as fire engulfed a production building at DiversiTech outside of Columbus.
According to reports, the fire allegedly began in the paint shop section, located on the west side of the building, producing heavy, toxic smoke.
"Smoke and breathing air was more problematic than water," said Chief Walla. "The smoke was so thick and black that the first team we sent in couldn't see their hand in front of their face."
Eagle Lake VFD was once again called for mutual aide. However, this time Walla said they were needed primarily for use of their onboard air cascade system to refill firefighter air bottles on the scene.
"Because of the toxic smoke, our firefighters had to be in full gear before entering the building which included breathing apparatus," said Walla.
All employees had already been removed from the building when firefighters arrived, according to Chief Walla, and no home evacuations were mandated in the area.
According to a press release sent out by DiversiTech the public was not in danger from the smoke.
"No impact to the environment was reported," stated the press release issued by Artie Toevs, vice president of western division.
Firefighters spent approximately three and a half hours fighting the blaze and ventilating the building.
"They were very, very lucky," said Walla. "It could have been a lot worse."
The fire caused damage to the structure, equipment within the structure and company product. While no exact figures were available, Chief Walla said it was a very substantial dollar amount.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire from reaching several 55-gallon drums of chemicals that were located in the paint room.
An exact cause has not been officially determined, but investigators believe the fire was possibly started by a malfunction in the motor of an exhaust fan.
Other agencies assisting included the Colorado County Sheriff's Depart-ment, Colorado County EMS and the Colorado County Office of Emergency Management.
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