Fire heavily damaged a 20 by 40 metal outbuilding in Junction City Saturday afternoon.
Sandoval Fire Chief Chad Parson says the fire was on the Cody Felty property at 401 Van Buren Street.
A Centralia Fire District officer had responded from nearby and at first light smoke was showing. However, the fire accelerated after several small explosions involving welding gas tanks. Upon the Sandoval Fire Department’s arrival they found heavy smoke and fire conditions in the building. Entry was made through a door and the fire slowed down until mutual aid arrived to assist in putting out the fire.
Felty indicated to fire officials he had been charging batteries in the outbuilding and noticed smoke. He attempted to extinguish the fire but had to call 911 as the fire grew. The contents in the structure were a total loss. Parson is uncertain if the structure will be repairable.
Odin Fire, Centralia Fire Protection District, Centralia City Fire, and Patoka Fire provided mutual aid assistance. Salem Firemen stood by at the Sandoval Fire Station in the event of another fire.
United Medical Response stationed an ambulance at the scene. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
The fire call came in at 2:55 Saturday afternoon with firemen on the scene for about two hours.
