Blaze Claims Virginia Station, Ambulances

Jan. 18, 2006
Firefighters were on a call when the blaze started, so their engine and the gear they had were the only equipment spared.

BLOXOM , Va.- It was a sick twist of fate for Bloxom volunteer firefighters. While they were out battling one fire, another fire destroyed their empty firehouse. It happened shortly after midnight.

Firefighters with the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company left their Station 6 headquarters just a little after midnight on Wednesday to respond to a call 10 minutes down the road. But an hour later they had to rush back to extinguish a roaring blaze that destroyed the building and everything inside.

Firefighters say that including the building and its contents, the total estimated loss is approximately $1 million. The fire company's two ambulances were included in the loss. One was a 2000 model while the other one was only purchased two weeks ago.

But despite losing everything- with the exception of the fire company's fire engine and the uniforms and helmets the firefighters were wearing- Bloxom Fire Chief Jody Bagwell said there is still a Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company.

"Different companies have offered us what we need, but they are all so limited on what they have," Bagwell said. "So we'll just plug along and see what we can do."

There is no word yet on the cause of the fire. But Bagwell noted that there have been several suspicious fires in the area in the last few weeks. In fact, Bagwell said firefighters were responding to one of those calls when this fire started.

But a preliminary investigation indicates this may have been an electrical fire.

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