Published: September 02, 2008 04:20 pm      

Fire at Gary Job Corps

San Marcos — Around 40 firefighters from three agencies battled a stubborn fire on the campus of Gary Job Corps Monday night.

According to Chief David Smith of the South Hays Fire Department, the fire in an abandoned dormitory was reported around 9:30 p.m. Initial responders found “a single story dorm with heavy fire and turbulent black smoke coming from the interior of the building.”

He said the World War II-era building had been remodeled numerous times and had two or three ceilings, making the fire difficult to fight and allowing the flames to spread.

“Fire was running through all the hidden areas,” Smith said.

South Hays firefighters first made an interior attack, he said, but had to pull back when part of the ceiling collapsed and burned through a fire hose.

“South Hays crews were forced to evacuate the structure and set up for defensive operations.”

Smith said San Marcos and Kyle fire crews answered a call for assistance, and the blaze was finally brought under control around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Crews remained on scene throughout the night performing “mop up” and making sure the blaze didn’t re-ignite.

He said there were no injuries.

The building had been boarded up with plyboard over the windows to keep people out, Smith said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.