What reportedly started as a controlled burn by a business spread into pallets and damaged a business building on the north Interstate 30 service road, just east of Sulphur Springs Friday afternoon. All available firefighters from around the county were requested to provide man power and water support due to the heavy fire load in pallets and the extreme summer heat.
Dispatchers were first notified at 1 p.m. Aug. 23 of the blaze at the pallet business just east of town on the north Interstate 30 service road, and dispatched Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County firefighters.
An all call was soon requested for all available fire departments to respond. The brush fire had reportedly not only spread into pallets behind the business when the wind changed directions, but also spread to the back side of the business, according to the Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County fire chiefs.
Firefighters were able to put a quick stop on the structure fire, however, it continued to burn in some pallets behind the structure. The office and second story of the building sustained heavy damages.
A rehab unit and Red Cross reportedly responded at the location to help keep firefighters hydrated. Trusties from the county jail accompanied a Precinct 3 official to the scene with county equipment, which was used to dig a hole to bury some of the smoldering pallets.
Firefighters remained at the location at the ready, quickly knocking down fire as smoldering pallets blazed up through through the afternoon.
One member of Sulphur Springs Fire Department sustained and was sent to be treated for what appeared to be a minor injury while working at the scene, according to SSFD Chief David James.
The roadway was shut down in front of the fire site due to the number of fire apparatus responding and as a safety precaution for firefighters working.
The blaze is at least the second county firefighters have battled involving a shop-type building in as many days. At 5:33 Thursday, Aug. 22, Hopkins County, Brinker, Arbala and Pickton-Pine Forest firefighters were dispatched to what was reported as a barn fire with tractors and farm supplies inside of it on County Road 2324 in Como. Firefighters remained on scene battling the fire, which reportedly spread into hay, until 7:13 p.m. Thursday, according to county reports.
City fireman also reportedly battled a structure fire late Wednesday night which caused significant damage to a large shed or shop-type building behind a residence.
