LFR crews battled a two alarm fire at the vacant Village Inn building at 29th and O Street Wednesday morning. LFR Public Information Officer MJ Lierman says the call came in around 8:30. “The fire was coming through the roof and there was a lot of heavy smoke once we got there.”
She says they tried to go inside and fight the flames, but the smoke and flames were too intense. After they determined no one was inside, they brought their crews out of the building and fought the fire from the air and on the ground.
Due to safety concerns, a gas station next to the building was evacuated and several homes in a nearby neighborhood were also evacuated due to the heavy smoke. LPD blocked off east and westbound traffic on ‘O’ Street as crews battled the fire.
LFR Chief Dave Engler says crews had to deal with a number of challenges while battling the fire. He said the biggest challenges was the vacant building.
“Oftentimes, the construction and the stability of the business may have some compromises,” said Engler. “…and then the windows are boarded up. So we don’t have an easy way in, and we don’t have ways of egress if a firefighter becomes trapped.”
Strong winds that fanned the flames were also a big challenge along with dealing with heavy traffic on O Street.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. The total loss is estimated at $344,000.
(Photos: KLIN’s Tom Stanton)