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September 2, 2010

Fire caused by welding, fire chief says

From staff reports

The cause of a fire at 1024 Dozier Street on Dalton’s east side on Tuesday was likely caused by welders who were dismantling the old Ameripride Services building, said Dalton Fire Chief Bruce Satterfield.

“I don’t know how long it’s been empty, but the building is being demolished,” he said on Wednesday. “However, the front of it in the old office area is still loaded with trash, paper, junk and so forth.”

Four engine companies, two ladder companies, a heavy rescue truck and a command vehicle were dispatched to the scene.

Satterfield said when the first units arrived after getting the 6:54 p.m. call and saw heavy black smoke, firefighters began “escalating” the other stations to action that were on duty. One off-duty shift was also recalled to be placed in a reserve capacity in case another fire broke out somewhere in the city, he said.

“The heat was just brutal yesterday, and even though the rear of the building was torn out, the front of it with the wind out of the south made it difficult to dispel the heat out of the building,” he explained. “The cause is related to the demolition of the building. It was accidental in nature. The (demolition) company was actually cutting and using torches in the area of the building. They actually had a previous fire that they thought they had extinguished ... the wind probably whipped up some embers and there were heavy combustibles piled up in those areas.”

Satterfield said the fire, which began on the second floor of the structure, was under control by 7:30 p.m. and units left the scene by 11 p.m. A total of 27 firefighters were on the scene, he said, noting that the recalled shift was sent home when the all clear was given.

 

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