Spreading Fire Doused

KFD fires off the spread of the flame. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

At 9:30 p.m. a March 20 call was received at the 911 Dispatch Center, reporting the former Industrial Belting Supply Company at the corner of Depot Ave. and Ogden St. was burning.

Half of the 14,000 sq. ft. building was fully involved with fire when Knoxville firefighters arrived on the scene.

Seeing the potential for fire extension, the Incident Commander called for additional manpower by turning in a second alarm, which amounted to a total of seven pumpers, three aerials, a rescue truck, a hazardous material truck, and about 50 firefighters.

Large diameter hoses were connected to several hydrants to establish a water supply for the three aerials. Attack lines were also drawn from the pumpers, all with the same purpose of holding the fire at bay along the middle firewall while pushing flames back toward the most burnt eastward half of the building.