Oaks Fire

A LONG, HARD NIGHT FOR FIRE CREWS IN OAKES... DOZENS OF HOMES WERE EVACUATED AS CREWS BATTLED A M...  More »

A LONG, HARD NIGHT FOR FIRE CREWS IN OAKES... DOZENS OF HOMES WERE EVACUATED AS CREWS BATTLED A MASSIVE GAS STATION FIRE OVERNIGHT. AROUND 9:00 LAST NIGHT.. A CITY POLICEMAN DROVE BY.. AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK SIDE OF THE SOUTH SIDE TESORO GAS STATION. IT TOOK FIVE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EIGHT HOURS TO KNOCK DOWN THE FIRE IN THE 50 YEAR OLD BUILDING. THICK, BLACK SMOKE WENT AS FAR AS 10 BLOCKS. OAKES FIRE CHIEF SAYS IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME TRYING TO PUT OUT A FIRE OF A GAS STATION.. BECAUSE OF ALL THE LITTLE EXPLOSIONS.. AND POSSIBLY BIG ONES. [RANDY BURLEY\OAKES FIRE CHIEF] "I don't think at one time did I ever have a fireman enter the building once we got on scene. It was just too intense of black smoke and too much heat." THE BUILDING IS A TOTAL LOSS. FIRE OFFICIALS DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE.  « Less