Volunteer Fire Department responds to rash of structure fires

Between January 15th and Valentine’s Day, the Broadus Volunteer Fire Department responded to three separate structure fires around the county.

On January 15th, a shop at the Landa Ranch near Boyes caught fire and succumbed to the flames. Broadus Fire Chief Raymond Ragsdale told us the cause was either a wood stove or electrical fire. A tractor parked outside was saved from the fire. Clint Pedersen, Cass Zimmer, Chase Talcott and Raymond Ragsdale responded to the incident.

January 29th, a second shop fire took place at the Tom & Kitty Riggs residence, south of Broadus. The fire resulted in a total loss of the building and contents, and was started from a welding spark. Cass Zimmer, Clint Pedersen, Kurt Copps, Donna Wilson and James Gorder responded from the Broadus VFD.

An electrical fire at the Dan and Amber McDowell residence in Broadus caused extensive damage. The firefighters had to tear apart the roof to extinguish the flames. Donna Wilson, Clint Pedersen, Carey Trumps, Bill Gorder, Josh Boman, Scott Cain, Kurt Copps, Rich Biesheuvel, Cass Zimmer and Jason Madsen responded.

With the help of friends and family over the weekend the McDowells were able to move back into the house.

In a change of pace from the structure fires, the Broadus VFD was called out on Valentine’s Day for a pickup and semi wreck near Copps Hardware. Ragsdale says a semi side-swiped Clint Pedersen, driver of the pickup. The wreck caused a fuel leak, which fire department volunteers cleaned up, while others directed traffic. Donna Wilson, Josh Boman, Kurt Copps, Dan McDowell, Clint Pedersen, Carey Trumps, Dixie Mitchell, and Cass Zimmer responded to the incident from the VFD.

Ragsdale says the increase in structure fires hasn’t followed a pattern, noting that electrical fires are difficult if not impossible to predict. Residents should also keep an eye on their wood stoves, making sure to clean the chimneys on a regular basis.