Multiple fire departments respond to machine shed fire

Four fire departments battled a structure fire southwest of Newton Wednesday afternoon.

Crews from Newton, Monroe, Colfax and Mingo needed more than an hour to contain a fire at a machine shed, located on the south side of South 48th Avenue West in the 4900 block. The first call came in shortly before 3 p.m.

Newton Fire Chief Jarrod Wellik said it appeared initially to be some type of electrical fire, but the exact cause wasn’t immediately determined. He said the building is some type of industrial shop.

Wellik said he didn’t the owner’s name. He said the owner arrived at the building, flipped on the lights, then went outside to cut some brush, and soon noticed the structure was on fire.

Wellik said there’s no residence close to the structure, and no one appeared to be injured in the blaze. Fire trucks from more than one department made several runs to bring water in; the Newton Water Treatment Plant is nearby, near the intersection of South 48th Avenue West and West 54th Street South.

The building appeared to be very heavily damaged. Several loud pops were heard from a distance; Wellik said it’s common for paint cans or other containers to be in an industrial building.

Wellik praised the crews for protecting a propane tank located on the north side of the building.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com