Incoming Centralia Fire Chief Blake Perez says firemen on duty did a heck of a job in confining a working fire inside the now vacant former Doug Loy Auto building in the 100 block of North Chestnut in downtown Centralia.
Perez says tires inside the building were burning and eventually broke through a portion of the roof on the northwest side of the building.
“We had multiple calls of heavy dark smoke coming from the 100 block of North Chestnut,” Perez said. “We could see it from the station. We responded with three trucks. We had heavy fire in the back of the building with heavy dark smoke. We made a rapid attack from the exterior of the structure to keep it contained. Fortunately enough, we were able to keep it from surrounding businesses and other structures, and the damage is confined to just this vacant building here.”
Perez says the building abuts the Block Tavern. There was a space in the buildings on the south side. The thick column of black smoke went high into the air and reportedly was seen from as far away as Kinmundy.
All available Centralia City Firemen and the Centralia Fire Protection District provided mutual aid on the scene, while Sandoval Firemen stood by at the main Centralia fire station in the event of another fire.
Perez reports there was plenty of water and no injuries.
The fire calls came in at 10:20 Wednesday morning, with firemen on the scene for about two hours.
Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Photo by Tim Ferguson.
