By Jaleesia Fobbs
Firefighters with the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) responded to a working fire involving multiple RVs on fire at a storage lot.
The CSFD sent out a tweet at around 8:59 a.m. last Tuesday and stated the fire started at Extra Space Storage, at 6125 Mark Dabling Boulevard.
Firefighters said that the first units to arrive saw the extent of the fire and called in more resources; the fire was declared out just before 9:30 a.m.The CSFD said that firefighters were unable to get water from a private fire hydrant on the property, but were able to use a nearby city hydrant and water stored in several fire engines.
Indications are that six RVs and a boat parked in several bays were damaged by the fire; the cause remains under investigation.
The storage manager declined to comment on the matter, but the CSFD said that the property owner is responsible for maintaining the private hydrant.
“Our investigators notify them that it needs servicing and will check back to make sure the service is completed,” said CSFD spokesperson Ashley Franco.
The owner of an RV stored at the business said that this is the second fire in two years there.,”There’s been a management change in between,” he said. “My RV wasn’t damaged last time and I don’t know how it fared this time.”
Colorado Springs Utilities, the CSFD and Pikes Peak Regional Building said that they don’t regulate privately owned hydrants; several plumbing businesses install, maintain and repair them.
The fire is a reminder for RV and boat storage operators to always stay up-to-date on insurance for their business and to encourage tenants to obtain/maintain policies to protect their valuable toys against damage while in storage.
Jaleesia Fobbs is a Digital Content and Weekend Broadcast Producer for GMC.
