FIRE IN LE MARS INDUSTRIAL PARK – UPDATE 11:30 AM
A fire was reported this morning in the Le Mars industrial park. Le Mars Fire Rescue Chief Dave Schipper says they were called to Tritz Pallet /Kamps Company on 18th Street SW at 4:22 a.m. The east building at the site was on fire. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was coming from the roof of the building. Heavy fire was inside the building among the pallets inside, and in an interior wall.
Orange City and Sioux Center Fire Departments were called to assist with aerial ladder trucks and additional manpower.
In a press release, Chief Schipper said teams of firefighters rotated through the building until fire was brought under control. Burnt pallets were removed from the building by firefighters and Kamps employees. Firefighters were on the scene for four hours to overhaul and building and remove the smoke. There was no fire sprinkler system in the building.
The origin of the first was in some pallets along a divider wall inside the building. The cause of the fire is accidental. The most probable cause was a heater in the ceiling of the building came apart and fell into pallets below. The heater eventually started and ignited the pallets. Damage is estimated at 100-thousand dollars. The building is still usable, but will require repairs and cleaning.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue was assisted by Le Mars Police, Plymouth County Sheriff, Mid-American Energy, Orange City and Sioux Center Fire Departments, and the Le Mars Water Department.
photos by Luke Larson.
