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Fire examined

Kim Fundingsland/MDN Minot Rural Fire Department Chief Rex Welticol, right, conducts an interview at the scene of the Earth Recycling fire that occurred Thursday.

Interim State Fire Marshal Ken Sisk, Bismarck, and Rex Welticol, Minot Rural Fire Department Chief, conducted an investigation into the possible cause of last Thursday’s fire that ravaged Earth Recycling on Minot’s west edge. Investigators had not revealed a specific cause of the fire as of press time Monday.

A spokesman for Minot’s RFD said it was common for a local fire department to receive assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s office to investigate the possible cause of fires as large and extensive as the one at Earth Recycling. Flames and smoke from the blaze could be seen for several miles. The fire spread so rapidly that firefighters attacking the flames were soon moved to a defensive position, basically surrounding the fire to keep it under control and prevent it from spreading.

Monday’s investigation included a review of the scene and interviews with first responders and Earth Recycling employees.

Response to Thursday’s fire was quick. According to a log kept at Minot RFD, the first call to the department was received at 11:04 a.m. A member of Minot RFD arrived on scene at 11:06 a.m. and a “quick attack” vehicle reached the scene at 11:13 a.m. It was followed by RFD’s main engine five minutes later.

Response procedure for Minot’s RFD has a designated officer report to a fire call as soon as an alarm tone is received. That officer makes an evaulation of what equipment is needed and gives firefighters specific directions to the fire scene.

Thursday’s fire was outside of Minot’s city limits and not included in an area of mutual agreement between the Minot Fire Department and RFD. The mutual agreement allows the Minot Fire Department to respond to certain locations outside the city limits, such as areas they can reach quicker than the RFD. An example is some areas on Minot’s northern edge that can be reached quickly by units responding from the city’s airport fire station. The RFD fire station is located on Minot’s south side.

City of Minot firemen responded to Thursday’s fire but it was determined that additional rural fire departments arriving on scene to assist Minot RFD were sufficient to handle the fire. That meant Minot Fire Department units and personel remained available should they be needed within the city.

In situations where the Minot Fire Department would be first on scene at a fire outside the city limits and initiates first action, Minot RFD could relieve them or work with them as a dual department response.

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