Abandoned property catches ablaze in ‘suspicious’ fire

A member of the MHFD uses the ladder truck to keep an eye on the fire on the roof of the abandoned apartments making sure the fire did not spread any farther.

(photo by Tyson Cooley)

February 23, proved to be an eventful evening for members of the Mountain Home Fire Department as they were called out to the scenes of multiple fires in the area.

According to Fire Chief Mark Moore, he had just returned from a call in which a shop vac caught fire from having gasoline sucked up into it, when while on the phone with another fireman, he was informed that his officer could see a column of smoke. Immediately after which the call came over the air from dispatch that the Maple Cove Motel was on fire.

Having been called into the motel previously for inspection issues, Moore knew right away that it would be a fire fought on the defensive. Once on the scene the firemen were able to see it was the apartments behind the motel that were on fire.

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