[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tractor Fire Forces Career Center Evacuation

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Contact: Captain John Metz 
573-499-7035 - Duty PIO Pager 
(24 hours - Please no Voice Mail)
573-874-7644 Office (M-F, 8-5)

Tractor Fire Forces Career Center Evacuation

COLUMBIA, MO (October 11, 2011) - Shortly after2:30 p.m.this afternoon, the Columbia Fire Department responded to a reported commercial structure fire at 4203South Providence, theColumbiaCareerCenter.

 

Fire units arrived on the scene within minutes to find smoke coming from the open garage door of the Agricultural Education classroom. Fire crews determined that a fire had broken out in the area of a 1969 Ford farm tractor. The fire had been extinguished byColumbiaCareerCenterinstructors using portable fire extinguishers prior to the Fire Department's arrival. The tractor was being worked on as part of an Advanced Welding and Project Fabrication class.

 

Approximately seventeen 11th and 12th grade students fromRockBridge andHickmanHigh Schools were working in the classroom when the fire broke out.CareerCenter instructors immediately order the evacuation of the classroom, activated the building's fire alarm and began extinguishing the fire. "TheCareerCenter staff did an outstanding job evacuating the building and extinguishing the fire while it was still small." said Captain John Metz of the Columbia Fire Department. "It is a great example why it is important to have and know how to operate a fire extinguisher."Metz said.

 

The cause of the fire appears to be the result of fuel leaking from the farm tractor and being ignited by a spark from a nearby power tool.  There were no injuries and damage is estimated at $7000.

 

Columbia Fire units were on the scene for approximately one hour ventilating smoke and fire extinguisher dust from the building.

 

 


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