Never thought about a Firestation catching on fire

[Merika]

Thursday, May 05, 2005

FIRE STATION FIRE DESTROYS ENGINE, HURTS THREE FIREFIGHTERS: noon

OREGON CITY -- A fire early today at a Clackamas County Fire District 1 station destroyed a fire engine and forced officials to shut down Molalla Avenue while damaged air tanks were detonated.

Three firefighters suffered smoke inhalation, said a spokesman, Capt. Jamie Karn.

At about 11 a.m., the Portland bomb squad set off charges to relieve the potentially explosive pressure of firefighters' air tanks, which had become unstable in the fire.

Molalla Avenue reopened before noon. Officials were assessing damage to the station and considering temporarily moving firefighters to another location.

Firefighters awoke about 1:30 a.m. today after a passer-by alerted them to smoke. Alarms also sounded. The fire was coming from a fire engine parked at Station No. 16 at 19340 Molalla Avenue.

The vehicle had been experiencing mechanical problems. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Firefighters rushed to remove equipment from the station, Karn said. But the fire still damaged the station, a fire engine and an incident command vehicle. The damage is estimated at more than $300,000.

The new mobile command unit, co-owned by the fire district and Oregon City, was purchased last year.

[Duke]

Talking about taking your work home with you :?