Friday's Internet Edition, August 29, 2008.
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| COPPERAS COVE fireman William Sullivan walks in front of the fire off Hwy. 190 and FM 116 Saturday. The fire destroyed a 16-apartment unit and damaged an additional unit. – Photo by MIKE McILVAIN. |
Leader-Press staff writer - The cause of a spectacular fire Saturday afternoon appears to be accidental after arson was ruled out.
Investigators label the cause of Saturday’s Clear Creek Meadows apartment complex fire “undetermined” after state fire marshal dogs sniffed the scene.
The complex, currently under construction, is located at the corner of Hwy. 190 and south FM 116.
“There was no electricity to the area, and we looked at different reasons, and intentional was ruled out,” Copperas Cove assistant fire chief Robert O’Dell said. “We didn’t see any foot prints, or a fence breach. There was a lot of damage.”
Twenty-eight firefighters and 12 vehicles from Copperas Cove, Killeen, Kempner, Lampasas and Fort Hood answered the call shortly after 5 p.m.
“The firefighters did an excellent job, and I’m not just saying that because it was us, but they prevented exposure and prevented the fire’s spread,” O’Dell said.
O’Dell says the damage dollar estimate awaits today’s scheduled visit from an insurance company investigator to determine the extent of damage to a second unit. One 16-apartment unit was totally destroyed and about 40 percent of an adjacent unit was lost. O’Dell said the insurance will determine if the base slab for the second unit must be replaced, which would drive the cost higher. A third unit, in the 1200 block of S. Farm to Market Road 116, sustained lesser damage.
Two Cove firefighters and one from Kempner were treated and released on Saturday for smoke inhalation and exhaustion.
Firefighters stayed on the scene until about 1:15 a.m. Sunday and a police car stayed until dawn.
CCPD Lt. Danny Austin credited The Salvation Army and the Citizens Fire and Public Safety Volunteers with keeping emergency workers fed and hydrated.
“They were instrumental in helping and providing support,” Austin said.