Blaze destroys commercial structure in Blodgett

Thursday, September 5, 2019
The remains of a large commercial building destroyed by fire at Tank Tech Blodgett, Mo., are seen Wednesday afternoon.
David Jenkins/Standard Democrat

BLODGETT, Mo. — A fully-involved fire destroyed a large commercial building early Wednesday in Scott County.

At 3:43 a.m. Wednesday, Scott County Rural Fire Protection District was dispatched for a reported building fire at Tank Tech in Blodgett, according to Scott County Rural Fire Chief Jeremy Perrien.

“The area the fire started in was the computer/server room,” Perrien said Thursday morning. “Something in there is what we believe started the fire, and we don’t know what exactly caused it. We don’t think there is anything suspicious.”

The business, Tank Tech, located along State Highway H in Blodgett, glows in the early morning hours Wednesday as firefighters battle the blaze. Crews responded to the scene around 3:30 a.m.
Rob Russell/Facebook

Perrien said the fire marshal’s office was notified, which is something he said he typically does even when fires aren’t suspicious. He also noted insurance companies have their own fire investigators.

Upon arrival, fire fighters with Scott County Rural Fire found a large, two-story commercial building with heavy fire conditions showing through the roof. The structure was one, big building, but the offices and warehouses were connected by a dividing wall, Perrien noted.

Scott County Rural called for mutual aid assistance from several agencies for engines, water supply and manpower. Fire engines were placed in town at the hydrants and a portable water tank; the hydrants filled the portable water tanks and the engines then used that water to fill the tankers.

Due to a low water source in town, this allowed fire personnel to fill tankers a lot faster, according to Perrien. Two engines were used to work the operations at Tank Tech from two different angles. Two engines worked water supply fill stations, and 10 tankers shuffled the water. Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri Department of Transportation blocked the highway and redirected traffic.

Crews stopped the fire from spreading within the building and to other buildings; however, the building was a total loss, Perrien said.

“We wish the outcome would have been different; however, unoccupied buildings that catch on fire in the middle of the night are typically already out of control by the time they are found and reported, which is a disadvantage to the fire departments,” Perrien said.

Crews were also able to retrieve a computer tower and some documents, Perrien said.

“Our time on-scene plus getting our equipment back in service was about 11 hours,” Perrien said.

In addition to Scott County Rural Fire District, those assisting included: Oran Fire District, NBC Fire District, Miner Fire Department, Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Charleston Department of Public Safety, Morehouse Fire Department Scott City Fire Department Scott County Sheriff’s Office, South Scott County Ambulance District, MoDOT, the Blodgett Cafe and the Russell family.

“It is always a team effort and all parts of the jobs are equally important to have a successful scene,” said a post made on Scott County Rural Fire District’s Facebook page. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Russells and all employees of the business.”

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