April 02--SAN ANGELO, Texas -- The faint aroma of charred java wafted from Austin Street as fire crews extinguished flames in the ventilation system at DeCoty Coffee Co.
San Angelo firefighters responded to the blaze just after noon Tuesday when DeCoty's internal fire brigade needed assistance, Battalion Chief Ricky Long said.
By 12:30 p.m., the flames were extinguished, Long said. Fire personnel remained on scene past 1:30 p.m.
SAFD discharged 90 pounds of dry chemical extinguisher into the building's chimney system from the roof, Long said. The efforts knocked the flames down but did not secure the heat, he said.
The dry extinguisher did most of the work, and less than a 5 gallon bucket of water was necessary to subdue the heat, Long said. He did not have a damage estimate.
DeCoty may have to replace two sections of pipe and melted insulation material, he said.
"Everything is still operational, and everybody did exactly what they're designed to do," Long said. "It's nice when a plan comes together for real."
Long said he has responded to multiple fires at DeCoty in his 30 years of service.
SAFD trains at the building at 1920 Austin St. frequently to keep firefighters familiar with protocol, he said.
"The old days of sitting around playing dominoes and petting the Dalmatian were gone a long time ago," Long said. "These guys are out doing this stuff day in and day out."
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