Parking
Terrace fire causes $10,000 damage
CHECKING
IT OUT: Firefighters react to the fire
at the Parking Terrace. / Photo by Jacob Fullmer
By Cameron Salony
February 29, 2008 | A silver Grand Prix caught fire
in the Aggie Parking Terrace just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
There were no injuries, but the fire caused $10,000
worth of damage, according to Logan City Fire Chief
Mark Meaker.
"All of these fire fighters have been trained for
these kinds of fires," Meaker said, "This is good outcome
for a potentially big fire within a concrete oven."
Seven fire engines and two fire trucks carrying 50
fire fighters from all over Cache Valley were on the
scene to battle the blaze that forced all tenants from
the Student Living Center to evacuate. The first unit
arrived four minutes after the initial fire alarm.
Meaker said a normal fire hose measures 200 feet in
length, but the flames were 300 feet into the parking
terrace. The fire fighters carried in a "P-pack" which
is a compacted, lightweight hose extension which allowed
them to reach the fire.
Meaker also said the fire fighters reached the flames
with their hoses before the sprinkler system activated.
Eyewitnesses said a man saw the fire and tried to
put it, but he was unable to find a fire extinguisher.
When asked if there were fire extinguishers in the parking
terrace several fire fighters said they were unsure.
"I can't remember if there are fire extinguishers
in there or not," Meaker said, "You would have to ask
the Steve Bell the USU Fire Marshall.
Matt Stone, Director of Marketing and Development
for the USU Alumni Association said he heard sirens
from his office in the David B. Haight Center.
"I ran to the parking terrace and saw smoke billowing
out from the sides," Stone said, "I have no idea if
it's my care or not."
Stone and the many others who parked in the terrace
had to wait until 5:39 p.m. before they were allowed
to get their cars. The students were also allowed to
return to their dorms at this time.
The owner of the vehicle is a resident of the Living
Center. A director at the Living Center notified him
that there was a fire under the hood of his Grand Prix.
Fire fighters are still investigating the cause of the
fire.
Meaker gave credit to the university for building
the parking terrace the way they did. He said that the
sprinkler system throughout the entire garage and residences
made the structure "virtually impossible to burn."
MS
MS |
