By Taylor Boyd
A fire destroyed a small structure on American Legion Road on Monday, Feb. 9.
Patrick Springs Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Clint Weidhaas said the department was alerted to the fire at 8:31 a.m.
“I happened to be right in the area of it, so I was first on scene. We basically had a story-and-a-half, 50×40 barn-style structure that was fully involved. It was three-quarters involved upon my arrival,” he said.
The nearby home and home workshop were also being threatened by the fire. “The vinyl on their home was melting off. Then, we had the husband’s business shop 25 feet away, which was getting a lot of heat as well,” he said.
Weidhaas estimates that within 13 minutes of the call, Patrick Springs was on scene and provided exposure protection to prevent the home and business shop from potentially catching fire.
“Then we went into offensive mode as far as fighting the fire. We went into the structure. It was not collapsing, but it was three-quarters involved. We performed an interior attack, and it took us about 25 minutes to bring the fire under control,” he said.
The structure held car parts, tires, and stored items, which tend to burn fast and intensely, Weidhaas said, adding firefighters were on scene for two-and-a-half hours.
An “extensive overhaul was conducted due to the materials,” he said, adding that the cause of the blaze is currently unknown.
The Patrick Springs crew responded with nine personnel and two apparatus.
Stuart Volunteer Fire Department responded with five personnel and two engines, Moorefield Store Volunteer Fire Department had three personnel and two tankers, and CCDF Volunteer Fire Department had one personnel and one tanker.
Patrick County Emergency Medical Services and Jeb Stuart Volunteer Rescue Squad also responded with ambulances.
No injuries were reported.
Because of the multiple fires occurring throughout the county, Weidhaas said the volunteer departments need more money.
“I mean, we’re at $25,000 a year, and it needs to be more than double that. It’s just ridiculous, and it’s burning some people out lately,” he said.
Weidhaas said many of the county’s volunteer fire departments pay at least $40,000 a year just to keep their lights on. “That’s not adding all the stuff we might have to buy each year, equipment that has to be replaced each year from use -tires, maintenance,” he said.
Weidhaas said Patrick Springs plans to schedule a meeting with County Administrator Michael McGuinness and Peters Creek District supervisor Jonathan Wood to discuss the needs of the department.
Smoke from the American Legion Road structure fire could be seen from a distance.
