Employees at Inland Tarp and Cover accidentally started a fire while using a metal chop saw that resulted in massive propane tank explosions, 11,000 tons of hay burning, 5 buildings destroyed

Sparks set Fires and Explosions in Moses Lake, WA

 

 JULY 18, 2015

MOSES LAKE, Wash.- 

The Grant County Sheriff's Office says employees at Inland Tarp and Cover accidentally started the fire while using a metal chop saw.  Investigators say sparks ignited combustible materials nearby and the fire quickly got out of hand.  Flames engulfed five building and 15-20 mile per hour winds helped the fire grow.  A large propane tank exploded sending a huge mushroom shaped fireball into the sky.

Grant County Sheriff's Deputy Kyle Foreman responded to the scene. With years of experience as a fire firefighter and deputy, Foreman isn't phased by much. But Friday he said, 'My heart was pounding.'  The reason his heart was pounding so hard was a giant explosion from propane tanks. 'I dived behind my car while those explosions were happening,' he remembered. 

Next door, the Delgado family heard those booms. A giant pillar of black smoke rose from angry red flames burning the vinyl tarps and propane, and a thinner line of white smoke came from these haystacks burning. 

But the Delgado's are just happy the fire didn't jump from the company into their yard. 

'I was worried and concerned,' Anthony Delgado said. 'If that fire had come into our yard, I don't know what we would have done with just a couple of garden hoses. That's like a squirt gun against a giant fire. It's nothing.' 

 At least 11,000 tons of hay is burning and is expected to continue burning for the next several days.  No injuries have been reported.
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Previous Story: 

MOSES LAKE, Wash.- Right now fire crews in Grant County are responding to a structure fire on North Frontage Road East. KHQ just spoke with Grant County Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman, who says there are multiple commercial buildings on fire. North Frontage Road parallels Interstate 90, just west of Moses Lake. North Frontage Road is closed between Road C-NE and G-NE.

Grant County crews ask that drivers along I-90 DO NOT pull over to watch the fire. He says that could be very dangerous, and could hamper the firefighting efforts.

I-90 was shut down for a couple hours due to heavy smoke pouring over the freeway but it reopened around 1:00pm Friday. Please check back as this is a developing story. 

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Posted: July 18, 2015 by Chris Sarabi, FOX First at Ten News Producer
 
Moses Lake, Wash - 

An explosion and fire rips through a Moses lake business and it was all caught on camera.

Tonight were learning what caused the fire and just how much damage it did.  Investigators say that the fire was accidentally started by employees using a metal chop saw.

An explosion followed by a giant fireball shaking the entire town sending a large plume of smoke into the air that could be seen for miles.

The thick black smoke shutting down interstate 90 for a couple of hours. As first responders arrived they were immediately forced to take cover as propane tanks began to explode.

The intense, wind driven fire ripping through nearly a half dozen large buildings owned by Inland Tarp and Cover, a company that manufactures tarps to cover large haystacks. 

Anthony Delgado was nearby at home when he first noticed the fire burning right outside his slider door.  He watched as firefighters were eventually able to get it under control before it reached his home. His concern now are the haystacks that continue to burn. 

 In total 5 buildings and 11 thousand tons of hay were lost in the fire that continues to burn. Firefighters will remain on scene throughout the night looking for flare ups and making sure the fire doesn't spread to other nearby haystacks.