[UPDATE 9:32 a.m.] Man Saved from Fire in Old Town
Firefighters fought a blaze in Old Town between 2nd Street and Waterfront Drive near the old trains last night. According to Battalion Chief Kent Hulbert of Humboldt Bay Fire, his agency received a call around midnight that there was a fire where the office of the North Coast Rail Authority used to be.
“The building has been vacant for some time,” Hulbert said, “The doors were welded shut. It took some time to cut the boards from the window.”
Hulbert explained that the firefighters saved a man from smoke inhalation. “There was a transient found inside,” the fire chief said. “He was responsive [but] he wasn’t able to leave under his own power. He was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation.”
The fire didn’t damage the building too badly, Hulbert believes. “It’s pretty intact….It was basically the contents [that were on fire.] The building doesn’t appear to be damaged at all from the outside. ”
Although the cause of the fire is still being investigated, Hulbert said, “We are fairly confident that it was some kind of activity from transients.”
Below is a video of firefighters attacking the blaze by Glenn Kaminsky.
UPDATE 9:32 a.m.: Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire:
On June 21, at approximately 2350 hrs. Humboldt Bay Fire responded to a commercial structure fire at 4 west Second Street. The first arriving units found fire coming from windows on the front of the building. Crews located a male occupant inside and led him to the exterior, He was assessed by medical staff and transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Crews attacked the fire which consisted of trash and furniture knocking the fire down within 10 minutes.
2 engines 1 truck and 2 chief officers responded to the fire along with 1 fire support volunteer. Arcata Fire Protection District provided coverage of Humboldt Bay’s jurisdiction.
No firefighter injuries were reported.
The person inside the fire building was treated for smoke inhalation. Damage is estimated at $0, no structural damage was noted.
Smoke alarms save lives. Check them regularly and change the batteries twice ayear!
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Quick acting fire dept.makes me feel safer!thank you
Hulbert said, “The doors were welded shut. It took some time to cut the boards from the window.”
So how did he get into the building?
The fire chief said when I interviewed him early this morning that he wasn’t sure how the transients were making access to the building. The plan was to go back today in the light and check things out.
How could there be $0 damage estimated? I know it’s a metal building, but that is a lot of smoke! Glad the old Homie was saved