Arson is the suspected cause of a fire that brought the Elk City Fire Department out into the cold for two hours in the early morning of November 30, according to ECFD Chief Kyle Chervenka.
The fire was reportedly in a vacant and abandoned structure located on the 400 block of West Sixth Street in Elk City.
“The structure was behind a home there,” Chervenka explained.
The ECFD received the call at approximately 2:14 am.
Chervenka said his crew extinguished the flame quickly, but the structure is still a total loss as it was fully engulfed when the crew arrived.
The windowless building was one that fires typically can grow quickly within.
The ECFD sent their standard 6-man crew, plus two EMS, two to three ECFD volunteers, Medical Director Doctor Friesen and Chief Chervenka.
The ECFD left the scene at approximately 4:20 am.
Chervenka said that, during this time of year, the fire department does typically see an uptick in arsons often caused by people starting fires in homes or buildings without heat.
“This is why it is a good thing that the city is so proactive in addressing abandoned and condemned structures and homes,” Chervenka stated. “This time of year, we do see an increase in arsons, many of which are accidental. People start looking for these abandoned houses to stay in or squat in. And, because there isn’t heat within them, they start fires to stay warm and then the fire gets out of their control. We don’t want to see loss of life or other structures due to this.”
Chervenka also said that the home near the burned structure received very minimal damage.
In a case like this, the fire department determines cause and origin. The police department then takes over if it is decided that a possible crime may need to be investigated.
“It was pretty routine. Nothing toO crazy,” Chervenka added.
