February 9, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Firefighters Battle Generator Fire

Shreveport firefighters were dispatched to 5202 Interstate Avenue last night for a generator fire at Southern Plastics. The call reporting the fire was received by 911 fire communications officers at 8:20 p.m. Flames reportedly could be seen as far away as the Shreveport Regional Airport and Interstate twenty. Fire crews from the department’s airport and fair grounds stations arrived on the scene at 8:23 p.m., finding a large generator distribution system outside of the business totally involved in flames.

Because of the complexity of the fire, including the electrical element, officers on the scene used a foam and water mixture to smother the fire. The combination produced a large foam blanket that, when spread over the surface of the fire, created an oxygen depleting seal that eventually extinguish the fire. The fire was placed under control at 8:35 p.m.

Officials were initially concerned because the fire was relatively close to a chemical tanker and a silo that contained plastics. The tanker was later found to be empty and the fire was contained before impinging on the silo. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.

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