PLEASANT PRAIRIE – The Village Fire Department along with several fire departments responded to the Roger Prange Civic Center where a fire reportedly started inside a public works vehicle on Sunday evening.
Fire departments from several surrounding communities were called at 6 p.m. to 8600 Green Bay Road at the Civic Center Public Works Building, which houses snow plows and other vehicles. The fire started inside a new dump truck used in snow removal operations, according to the authorities on site. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Pleasant Prairie Fire units arrived at 6:08 p.m. Minutes earlier, an area police officer noticed “thick black smoke” coming from the building, according to Fire Chief Craig Roepke.
Firefighters from Zion, Winthrop Harbor, Beach Park and Newport also responded to the blaze, he said. Bristol Fire and Salem Lakes assisted with a “neighborhood change” to cover potential calls while village firefighters were at the scene of the blaze. The fire was under control at 6:18 p.m. and extinguished at 6:24 p.m., he said.
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“It appears to be a vehicle fire that started in the engine compartment and at this time that is all we know,” Roepke said.
“Typically, vehicle fires in the engine compartment spread quickly. Typically for a vehicle fire, we don’t call all of those units, but the fact that there was a vehicle fire in the inside a structure – that’s the indicator for extra units because if the vehicle sets the structure on fire, now we have a building fire,” he said.
Roepke said the fire was limited to the vehicle itself and there was no damage to structure or “any other vehicles” in the large storage building.
“The public works vehicle storage garage … is a sprinklered building. And the sprinkler system activated and contained the fire from the vehicle until arriving units could extinguish (the fire) “, did he declare.
The damage estimate has not yet been determined. He said the vehicle’s chassis is “probably a total loss”, but other components can still be salvaged. Public Works Director John Steinbrink Jr. also responded to the scene.
The central Prange campus also houses the village police department and 9-1-1 dispatch in a building just north of the public works structure, but was unaffected by the fire.
IN PHOTOS: EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc. 9/11 Memorial Ceremony
Take the time to think
Pleasant Prairie Fire Chief Craig Roepke, left, and Pleasant Prairie Police Chief, David Smetana, right salute as the taps are played at the 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in EMCO Chemical Distributors, Friday at Company Headquarters, 8601 95th St. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of that day 20 years ago and honor the first responders who protect us every day . This year’s event featured a flyover of a vintage P-51 Mustang and an A-1 Skyraider, music and speeches by Paul Truess, Regional Director for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, State Rep. Samantha Kerkman and EMCO President Edward Polen.
Gregory Shaver, for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
EMCO President Edward Polen speaks at EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, September 10, 2021, at the company’s premises at 8601 95th Street in Pleasant Prairie. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of that day and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
EMCO President Edward Polen speaks at EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, September 10, 2021, at the company’s premises at 8601 95th Street in Pleasant Prairie. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of that day and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
EMCO President Edward Polen watches the American Flag as the National Anthem is played during EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Friday, September 10, 2021 at the facilities of the business at 8601 95th Street, Pleasant Prairie. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of that day and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
Pleasant Prairie first responders listen to the national anthem during EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, September 10, 2021, at the company’s facility at 8601 95th Street, Pleasant Meadow. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of that day and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
A P-51 Mustang and an A-! Skyrider, perform a flyover during EMCO Chemical Distributors’ 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, September 10, 2021, at the company’s premises at 8601 95th Street, Pleasant Prairie. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of that day and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO-Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
EMCO President Edward Polen watches a P-51 Mustang and an A-1 Skyraider perform a flyover during EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, September 10, 2021, at the company’s headquarters. facility at 8601 95th Street, Pleasant Prairie. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
A 9/11 Remembrance Flag flies during EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Friday, September 10, 2021 at the company’s premises at 8601 95th Street, Pleasant Prairie. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
Kelly Ward listens as Taps is played at EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Friday, September 10, 2021 at the company’s premises at 8601 95th Street, Pleasant Prairie.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News
09102021-KN-EMCO- Remembrance-Ceremony-GSP
Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana salutes as Taps is played during EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc.’s 19th Annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Friday, September 10, 2021 at the company’s premises at 8601 95th Street, Pleasant Prairie. Employees and guests took time to reflect on the tragedy of September 11, 2001 and to honor the first responders who protect the community every day.
© Gregory Shaver for the Kenosha News