Elevator ablaze: fire reduces “old elevator” in Lenox to rubble

CNA photo by ANDY GOODELL Ramp to inferno: With the Lenox water tower across the street from the blaze, maintaining a supply of water to fight the fire was not an issue for firefighters.

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CNA staff reporter LENOX — Flames scorched the sky for nearly an entire city block in Lenox Wednesday afternoon. An unoccupied property owned by Lanny Douglas and known to locals as “the old elevator,” located one block east of downtown Lenox’s north side, was engulfed in flames for a good portion of Wednesday afternoon. The Lenox fire department arrived on scene at 1 p.m. and requested mutual aid from six additional fire departments including Creston, Corning, Mount Ayr, Bedford, Sharpsburg and Diagonal. “We had 50-plus firemen on the scene,” Lenox Fire Chief Kirk O’Riley said. “We set up command center at the water tower and each department reported to the command center upon arrival and were given instructions and job duties.” Creston Fire Chief Todd Jackson the cooperation was a good experience. “It was a good opportunity to work on mutual aid,” he said. The blaze erupted across the street from the Lenox Water Tower, a circumstance that worked to the advantage of all the fire departments on-scene. “That allowed us to have a huge water supply,” O’Riley said. “It helped us to best protect neighboring structures and properties.” One neighboring property included a home owned by David Huber, which was across the street and downwind from the blaze. “There was no smoke or fire damage to the home, but there was the stench of the smoke,” said O’Riley. “We will to continue to work with the property owner.” Although the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, a preliminary estimate from the Lenox Fire Department places the damages to the old grain elevator at $50,000. The Lenox Fire department remained on the scene until 6:15 p.m., with just one minor health issue. “We sent one of the Lenox firemen, Matt Mears, to the hospital via ambulance,” he said. “He has a mild case of asthma and he had some smoke inhalation. He was checked out at the hospital and he’s home today.” Lenox and Adams County ambulances, along with the Adams County Emergency Service trailer, were on scene to check out firefighters once they had completed a turn fighting the fire with a fire house. “When we shuffled firemen in and out every 15 minutes, they went to the ambulances for rehabilitation so no major injuries or health problems would occur,” O’Riley said. O’Riley commended the citizens of Lenox for their help in the emergency situation. “We had great help from the residents of Lenox with moving equipment and personal property to try to alleviate the dollars in damage,” he said. —————— Andy Goodell can be reached at (641) 782-2141 ext. 242 or agoodell@crestonnews.com