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Fire station damage estimated at $300,000

Posted July 24, 2007 11:00 pm

Amber Krosel

LEWISTOWN

- A fire that broke out early Sunday morning in the upper portion of the Lewistown Fire Department caused an estimated $300,000 in damages, officials said.

Reach Journal Star reporter Amber Krosel at (309) 686-3041 or state@pjstar.com.

"We were able to get all our equipment and gear out," Fire Chief John Spotloe said Tuesday. "Most of the damage was done to the meeting room and the office area."

Spotloe said his department is still able to respond to emergency calls thanks to temporary housing in a 30-foot trailer on loan from the Peoria Fire Department.

Spotloe said the fire house may be a total loss, but he won't know until a structural engineer report is released later this week.

The cause of the fire, which began about 1:20 a.m. at 110 E. Avenue B, may have been electrical but remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Spotloe said the fire began in the mechanical room on the second floor and extended to the roof.

The fire was reported by a passer-by who spotted smoke coming from the roof of the station. Lewistown has a volunteer department, and no one was in the station at the time.

Firefighters were notified by telephone, because the blaze had already destroyed the department's radio communications system.

Firefighters salvaged gear, equipment, trucks, important paperwork and a computer from the station. The radio room sustained extensive water damage.

Nearby apartments were evacuated, but no injuries were reported.

Firefighters called in mutual aid from departments in Canton, Cuba and Ipava.

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