by Kevin Lilly
The number of fires that Logansport firefighters have responded to this year is on record-setting pace.
Since Jan. 3, the Logansport Fire Department has handled 11 fires involving eight residences, two businesses and a school. Fire investigator Ted Franklin says, at the current rate, Logansport would suffer more fires than any year in the past 20-plus years.
The fire department responded to 35 structure fires last year. The highest number Franklin could find in the LFD records was 56.
“We’re on pace to even go higher than 56,” he said.
There is no certainty the pace will continue, Franklin said. He pointed out that all of the fires have been ruled accidental.
Four of the house fires were related to the need to stay warm during winter. Of those, two involved wood fireplaces while the other two were caused by electrical overloads from running multiple space heaters.
One residential fire involved a candle left burning while no one was home. The March 1 fire at Columbia Middle School and the Feb. 7 blaze at 801 High St. were a result of heating sources for reptile cages.
“We cannot recall a fire involving a terrarium. We had two of them in a month,” Franklin said.
The fire at Tyson Foods broke out after a hydraulic line ruptured and sprayed fluid into the open flames in the hog singe area. A gas leak caused the explosion at Jerry’s Pizzeria on Feb. 17, he said.
The 11 fires caused an estimated $3.5 million in damage. Of the residences damaged by fire, six of the homeowners or renters did not have insurance. Franklin believes three of those structures will have to be demolished because they were damaged beyond repair.
The Columbia Middle School fire left students unable to attend classes for two days.
Three firefighters sustained injuries while battling blazes in 2010. Fire chief Bob McMinn suffered a heart attack on Jan. 3 while fighting the house fire at 1401 Wright St. Fireman Kenny Ott was burned on his head this year and a firefighter injured his arm during the Tyson Foods fire.
Assistant chief Kim Costello said now is the time people begin burning off brush and grass patches. He advised people to be aware of their surroundings and the weather conditions as a way to avoid catching something of value on fire.
Costello said to leave plenty of distance between burn piles and buildings and make sure there is nothing combustible such as leaves between the two. Just in the past week, two outbuildings nearly caught fire due to fires being too close, he said.
Wind can also send fires out of control.
“On a windy day is really when we have the problems because it takes off and it goes,” Costello said.
Franklin and Costello both remind Logansport residents that no open burning is permitted in the city.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
Structure fires 2010
Here is a list of the fires that have occurred in Logansport this year.
Jan. 3 - residence at 1401 Wright St .
Jan. 15 - residence at 1618 Miles St .
Feb. 7 - residence at 801 High St .
Feb. 17 - Jerry’s Pizzeria, 1010 W. Market St.
Feb. 17 - residence at 316 Grove St .
Feb. 19 - residence at 310 Water St .
Feb. 21 - residence at 909 20th St.
Feb. 28 - residence at 804 Spear St .
March 1 - Columbia Middle School, 1300 N. Third St.
March 5 - residence at 2162 S. 400 East
March 5 - Tyson Foods, 2125 S. 125 West
SOURCE: Logansport Fire Department
