Fire flares and continues to smolder
Staff reporter
Beginning its third day of burning, the fire once again flared up at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
The fire rekindled in the north and northwest portion of the building that housed the classrooms, chapel, and church office.
"Fire is in the walls with the 2x4's and sheet rock," said Rod Jost, youth minister. "It is probably nearly impossible to get to and put out."
Ben Steketee, Hillsboro fire chief, said the fire flared up early Tuesday evening. The fire was sprayed with water.
At 2:45 a.m. Wednesday, firefighters saw flames on the second floor of the north building and sprayed with water again.
"It was hard to reach the fire with the aerial because the second floor was still intact," said Steketee. "The water wasn't reaching the fire."
Due to the fire weakening the structure, firefighters are not able to reach the fire with hand lines (hand-held hoses).
At 7 a.m. Wednesday, more flames were noticed. Firefighters sprayed the burning structure until 10 a.m.
Firefighters used a city bucket truck to direct the operator of the aerial hose to douse the fire.
Strong, southerly winds began blowing Wednesday morning and were not helping the cause.
"If the wind shifts and blows from the north, it will help to direct the water into the building," said Steketee. The southern wind is blowing the water away from the target area, making it difficult to douse the flames.
The Hillsboro Star-Journal spoke with Mark Larson, meteorologist with KWCH-12, Wichita television station.
According to Larson, at 11 a.m. Wednesday the winds were blowing in the Hillsboro area out of the south at around 32 mph with gusts to 40 mph.
"There will be a lull when the front goes through," said Larson. "By sunset, the wind will turn to the north to northwest with gusts from 40 to 50 mph."
Due to the complex nature of the building, with sub-floors and ceilings, a defensive attack is being made, said Steketee.
Steketee noted the wind was not the cause of the fire rekindling but was not helping at this point.
Steketee is thankful for the truck with the aerial ladder and praised his men for their hard work stating the volunteer firefighters have logged probably "thousands of hours."
At press time, the cause of the fire had not been determined. The state's fire marshal office had gathered the necessary information and was processing it.
