RCFD Responds to Second Fire in Same Location

Cause of second fire is under investigation

Rapid City, S.D. - Within minutes of leaving from an earlier structure fire, the Rapid City Fire Department responded to the Colonial Motel for a report of a structure fire. Just after 1:30 am, crews responded to a report of flames coming from the same building that was damaged in an earlier fire. When units arrived, a heavy volume of fire was coming from the roof and windows of the south building of the motel complex.

Crews were able to quickly knock down the flames. A search of the building was conducted to ensure that no one was trapped. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire or firefighting activities.

A RCFD crew and investigator had left the property approximately 15 minutes prior to the second reported fire. The circumstances surrounding the second fire are suspicious and the fire is under investigation.

Once again, the Rapid City Fire Department wishes to extend it's thanks to the Rapid City Police Department and Pennington County Fire Administrator Jerome Harvey for their assistance. 

An update to this release is not anticipated at this time.

Please contact the Rapid City Fire Department at (605)-394-4180 for questions related to this release.

Above: Truck 1 crews stretch a hose-line to attack the second fire of the evening at 511 E. North.

RCFD Responds to Overnight Structure Fire

No injuries reported, investigation into cause is underway

Rapid City, S.D. - A late night fire damaged a portion of the Colonial Motel on E. North St. on Wednesday. Just after 11:00 pm, crews from stations 1, 3, 4 and 7 responded to a report of a structure fire at the corner of E. Denver and N. Lacrosse streets. Rapid City Police Department units in the area arrived shortly after the initial 9-1-1 call and reported smoke and flames showing from the southern most building in the motel complex. The first arriving fire units found heavy fire showing from a door and windows on the north side of the building.

Crews were able to quickly knock down the main fire and perform a search of the building to ensure that there were no trapped victims. Crews remained on scene for about two hours to extinguish hot spots. During the fire, a portion of N. Lacrosse St. was closed to traffic.

As of about 1:30 am, an investigator was on scene. There is no information on the cause of the fire at this time.

No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported as a result of the fire or firefighting effort.

The Rapid City Fire Department would like to thank the Rapid City Police Department, Montana Dakota Utilities and Pennington County Fire Administrator Jerome Harvey for their professional assistance during the incident.

Updated releases related to this incident are not anticipated at this time.

Please contact Rapid City Fire Department Public Information Officer Jim Bussell at (605)-394-4180 for questions related to this release.

Above: First arriving crews were met with heavy smoke and fire.

Above: Crews work to extinguish fire in multiple units of the Colonial Motel.

Above: Firefighter Eric O'Conner cuts a hole in the roof of the Colonial Motel to release trapped heat and smoke.

Above: Firefighter Eric O'Conner (L) and Capt. Calen Maningas (R) complete roof operations at the Colonial Motel. Their assignment was to establish a ventilation hole in the roof to release trapped heat and smoke.

 

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