PRESS RELEASE BLACK RIVER FALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT --
At 23:16 on December 24, 2012 the Black River Falls Fire Department was paged by the Jackson County Emergency Dispatch Center for smoke coming from the Jackson County Highway Department Shop located at 23 Harrison Street in the City of Black River Falls.
Upon arrival the Department found heavy black smoke coming from above the large overhead doors of the "State Vehicle" garage area of the building. Further investigation found flames that were visible through a window but due to the large amount of thick black smoke it was not known what was burning but it appeared to be a county dump truck – snow plow on fire.
The window where the flames could be seen from was broken out and a hose stream was directed onto the fire for fire knock down.
Upon entering the building it was found that a county dump truck parked in the building – garage had been on fire. The fire had extended into the roof of the building.
The building has heavy smoke damage and the electrical service is also not working in the area of the fire. The vehicles in the garage area also have heavy smoke damage.
A damage estimate to the vehicles and the structure is not known at this time. The dump truck chassis appears to be a total loss.
The fire cause is also not known at this time but it appears to have started in the dump truck cab or engine compartment area.
The Department was on scene for 4.5 hours with four units and ten firefighters.
There were no reported injuries.
The Department was assisted on scene by the Black River Falls Police Department, Black River Falls City Utilities and We Energies.
