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LAFAYETTE, GA – Sunday, March 30, 2008 – At about 4:00 PM, the Lafayette
Fire Department was dispatched to 110 West McCarter Road for a reported
piece of business machinery on fire. This is the address of Quality Custom
Cushion, a maker of foam backing for carpets. While en route, a Lafayette
firefighter told the dispatcher he could see a large column of black smoke
in the area. Firefighters arrived to find more than a piece of machinery on
fire and immediately began to make an attack on the fire that was now raging
inside the large commercial establishment. A full commercial assignment was
requested.
During the initial attack on the fire, a firefighter was slightly injured
and was treated by medics from Hutcheson EMS. At this time it is unclear if
he needed hospitalization but he was not severely injured.
Firefighters immediately recognized the need for additional resources and
requested mutual aid. The initial call for mutual aid brought several fire
companies from Walker County Emergency Services along with a ladder truck
and battalion chief from Fort Oglethorpe Fire and Rescue. East Ridge,
Tennessee Public Safety Director Eddie Phillips who is designated MA-1
(Mutual Aid 1) for the surrounding area was contacted and he struck the
equivalent of a third and fourth alarm. This brought additional resources
from Catoosa County Fire Department, East Ridge Fire Department, Rossville
Fire Department, Summerville Fire Department, Walker State Prison Fire
Department and the Hays State Prison Fire Department. In total, about
100-120 firefighters responded to the call.
Firefighters fought the blaze from several fronts. While some were able to
make a limited interior attack, water from the master streams atop Fort
Oglethorpe Ladder 1 and Catoosa Ladder 1 flooded the building from above.
Firefighters were hampered in their efforts by the limited amount of access
to the building and the large amount of fire inside. Access on two sides was
limited to one door each. The C side of the building was only accessible
from a large overhead door. The D side was accessible through several
overhead garage doors but they were all blocked by trailers waiting for
loading or unloading. One portion of the wall on the D side along with
portions of the roof collapsed during the operation. The wall was kept from
coming all the way down by trailers backed up against it.
Eventually when a large portion of the fire was brought under control, all
crews were pulled out and the wall was allowed to completely collapse on its
own. Firefighters then went to work removing all of the debris from inside
that was still on fire so that it could be completely extinguished.
Firefighters also then used foam to douse the fire.
Firefighters worked through the night and into the next day ensuring that
the fire was completely out. No further injuries were reported. Chattanooga
Hamilton County Rescue was on the scene for rehab. Total monetary loss is
unknown at this point but almost everything inside the building was
completely
destroyed. Early in the fire, firefighters were able to make entry into the
front of the building which houses the office area and removed several
computers and records for the owners. The cause of the fire is believed to
be a piece of machinery that caught fire and then spread to foam stored in
the building.
Hazardous materials crews and environmental protection officials were called
to the scene to asses the damage and any potential hazards. Several
different dyes and chemicals are used in the day to day operations of the
plant and there was a large amount of runoff during the fight to control the
fire.
Story by Steve KellamPhotos by Bill
Carson
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