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Victoria, TX 77901
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Shoalwater Boat Factory Destroyed By Fire
Written by Emily Collins
Sunday, 07 September 2008
AROUND 10:00 PM, PORT O'CONNOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED TO 20TH AND MONROE STREET, WHERE THEY FOUND THE SHOALWATER BOAT FACTORY CONSUMED BY A BLISTERING FIRE.
"It was fully engulfed. There were flames flying out of the top of the building when we got here," says Port O'connor's fire Chief, Cale Hummel.
SEADRIFT, PORT LAVACA AND SIX MILE FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE ALL CALLED OUT TO ASSIST IN PUTTING OUT THE BLAZE AND IT TOOK THE FOUR DEPARTMENTS UNTIL 3 AM TO SUCCESSFULLY DO SO.
WHEN I ARRIVED SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT OF THE BUILDING AND HOTSPOTS STILL VISIBLY BURNED.
THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING IS COMPLETELY CAVED IN, AND HUMMEL SAYS MOST EVERYTHING INSIDE IS DESTROYED.
BUT, THE DEPARTMENT REMAINS UNSURE OF THE FIRES CAUSE.
"It probably started due to the chemicals inside, but we're not exactly sure. We didn't have anybody come out and check," says Hummel.
HUMMEL SAYS THE COMPANY HAS TWO BUILDINGS IN PORT O'CONNOR. THIS BUILDING BEING THE ONE WHERE THE COMPANY BUILDS THEIR BOATS AND THE OTHER BUILDING IS WHERE THEY RIG THEM OUT.
IF HE HAD TO GUESS, HUMMEL SAYS THE COMPANY PROBABLY EMPLOYEES AROUND THIRTY PEOPLE BETWEEN THEIR TWO LOCATIONS.
