By Chris Reed, Cedar City News
The Emergency Operations Center in Zion National Park faced a fire inside its own building Wednesday night after a fire vehicle was ignited inside its own bay.
A wildlands fire vehicle caught fire while parked in its bay, Zion National Park Superintendant Jeff Bradybaugh told St. George News. The reason for the truck catching fire is undetermined.
“It’s very rare to have a fire in the firehouse,” Bradybaugh said.
He added that fighting the fire was not as simple as running downstairs and trying to put out the fire. Even for firefighters in their own workplace, the first step is to get out.
“The first step is to still evacuate. It’s about safety. You evacuate first and evaluate the situation,” said Bradybaugh, who added civilians dealing with fires in their own home can learn from this example. “After everyone was out, we were able to take specific precautions and put on breathing devices. Our training paid off.”
The work of the firefighters along with a robust sprinkler system in the building helped to limit the fire and most damage to the bay. While the fire was taking place, 911 calls that usually went to the center were being diverted to St. George.
Read the full story here.
