The DeKalb County Fire Department responded to a couple of structure fires last week, including one that damaged a long-time business in Liberty. The blaze resulted in mutual aid being called from Smithville and Alexandria departments. Firefighters also dealt with an auto accident where victims had to be flown from the scene.
On Friday evening, at approximately 9:35 p.m., the DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to an industrial structure fire at Liberty Machine Shop on East Main Street in Liberty. A neighbor spotted fire coming from the roof and called DeKalb 911.
Liberty, Temperance Hall, Main Station, and Cookeville Highway engines responded to the scene and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the front of the building near the roof line. Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack and were able to quickly contain the fire. However, due to the building age and type of construction, firefighters were required to perform extensive overhaul operations to extinguish fire extensions between the tongue and groove ceiling, dense insulation, and the metal roof.
After an extended operation, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, ventilate the building, and perform salvage operations to help protect machinery and other property inside the facility. Due to the extended period of operation and physical demands on firefighters, mutual aid was requested from the Alexandria Fire Department and Smithville Fire Department to provide more fire personnel. Approximately 40 firefighters were on the scene.
Others on the scene providing assistance were DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Fire Department’s Rehabilitation Unit, Caney Fork Electric Company, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, and several members of the public who provided drinking water to firefighters.
The building received significant fire damage to the front interior portion where the fire originated in the ceiling area. Other portions of the facility received moderate smoke and water damage. No one was present at the facility when the fire was reported and no injuries were reported during the incident. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined.
The following day, at approximately 2:35p.m., fire crews were dispatched to a structure fire on Obie Adcock Road in the Belk Community. DeKalb County Fire Department’s Belk, Keltonburg, and Short Mountain stations, Tanker 2, Rehab, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services, responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke showing from all sides of the structure. Firefighters made entry and extinguished the fire quickly. With the quick attack, firefighters were able to contain the fire to one room.
On Friday, at approximately 10:24 p.m., DeKalb Fire was called to Sparta Highway for a vehicle collision involving two vehicles. Upon arrival, firefighters confirmed no extrication or fire suppression was needed.
DeKalb EMS arrived to assess the patients and called for two air medical helicopters to transport patients. Fire crews set up a landing zone at the Midway Fire Station.
Along with the Midway Station, Johnson’s Chapel and Main stations, DeKalb EMS, DeKalb Sheriff's Department, and Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the incident.
