Crescent-News.com - Scorched: Defiance firefighters battle blaze inside own building

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By JARED ORZOLEK
orzolek@crescent-news.com
Heavy smoke billowed out of the Defiance Fire Department’s fire station Tuesday afternoon as a squad vehicle parked inside caught fire.
The fire began at 2:35 p.m. in the apparatus bay at the 702 W. Third St. fire station and sent firefighters rushing to remove specialized trucks and equipment from the station and extinguish the fire.
City Mayor Bob Armstrong said this morning that firefighter Roy Perez was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, but was expected to be released this morning.
It took firefighters 10 minutes to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed squad 210 and caused significant damage to the ventilation system. The electrical wiring for the station’s overhead doors and the heating system were also damaged and the fire caused seams in the roof to separate.
Defiance Interim Fire Chief Pete Schlosser said this morning that city firefighters do not drill to fight a fire inside the fire station, but were still able extinguish the fire quickly.
“The day shift did an excellent job. They got a squad vehicle out to get access to fight the fire,” Schlosser said. “We pack our equipment in here pretty tight.”
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze after hearing a popping sound and a hissing noise in the apparatus bay. Firefighters then viewed smoke rolling out the back of squad 210.
Firefighters were able to get the majority of the city’s valuable firefighting equipment out of the fire station away from the fire, but Defiance’s aerial tower truck was unable to be moved immediately because the air brake pressure lines malfunctioned to due the fire.
“The truck has to sit for several minutes, until the pressure builds back up,” Schlosser said.
The fire caused smoke discoloration and scorched the paint of the tower truck, but the vehicle remains operational, according to Schlosser.
All other city vehicles, except squad 210, are operational this morning. Squad 210, which is a backup unit purchased in 1996 for $80,000, will likely be considered a total loss, Schlosser said. A new squad vehicle costs more than $100,000, firefighters report.
City officials were meeting with insurance officials this morning to assess the damage to the fire station.
A monetary damage estimate has not yet been calculated and the state fire marshal’s office is investigating the exact cause of the fire.
The investigation is expected to focus the engine compartment of squad 210. Schlosser told city council Tuesday night that the investigation is “leaning toward an electrical problem.”
The Defiance Fire Department was officially back in service at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Defiance Police Department and Defiance Municipal Court were evacuated Tuesday, as these offices are located adjacent to the fire station. Both offices were open for business today.
Noble Township Fire Department, Defiance Regional Medical Center’s ambulance unit, Defiance County Sheriff’s Office, Defiance Police Department and various city officials assisted at the scene.
City Editor Todd Helberg contributed to this report.