Update…Feb 21, 2012….The City of Jamestown has announced updates to street closures, downtown, stemming from last Friday’s (Feb 17, 2012) fire in the 300 block of First Avenue, North.

These area streets will be closed to motorists until further notice:
3rd St NW between 1st Ave and 2nd Ave NW South Bound traffic on 1st Ave North from 4th St to 3rd St NW

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Feb 17. 2012) — The Jamestown City Fire Department will continue to pour water on two buildings in the 300 block of First Avenue North in Jamestown through the next 24-48 hours, in the continuing response to a large fire that reported on Friday morning.
At a Friday afternoon news conference held at City Hall, in Jamestown, City Fire Chief Jim Reuther said, the fire started in the building at 305 First Avenue, North which had contents stored by Vining Oil. (Also known as the North Star Building and the former location of Midwest Motors.) Also receiving fire and smoke damage was the former Elks Building (301 First Avenue, North) to the south.

Chief Reuther said the fire was called in by a number of people going by the building seeing smoke coming it from it. The call came in at 9:54 a.m., and all units of the City Fire Department responded and were on scene within 3 minutes. He said when the units arrived the Vining building was fully involved in flames and heavy smoke. He said two apartment buildings to the west and south of the structures were evacuated in case the Elks building were to collapse from fire damage, and smoke issues. It was reported that some guests at the Gladstone Inn & Suites across the street on First Avenue North had been evacuated for time, due to smoke entering that building through the air handling system. No significant smoke damage was incurred by the motel.

The Jamestown Salvation Army is giving temporary shelter, at the Gladstone, Friday evening for those evacuees. The Salvation Army across the street from the fire scene opened its doors to provide accomodations to the fire fighters, as did the Buffalo Valley Red Cross.

Chief Reuther said, at the Elks Building, fire was confined to the back stairwell and elevator shaft.

He added the Vining building contained 55 gallon, full oil barrels and tires, in the Southwest corner of the building.

A 4-5 block area north of the fire scene was without power for a time, along with a half block south of the area. As of Friday afternoon a small area was without power, and was expected to be restored, later in the day, by Otter Tail Power Company.
City Enigineer Reed Schwartzkopf said a sewage lift station in the area was off line for about a half hour due to the power outage, but no problems in sewage pumping resulted. He added the water supply was adequate for fire fighting, as Chief Reuther said 3,500 gallons of water per minute was used on the fire when the units first arrived on the scene.

Chief Reuther pointed out that fire fighters were able to enter the west side of the former Elks building at 2-p.m. Friday. He said the interior of that building was basically empty.

For the upcoming weekend Chief Reuther said the fire scene will be secured through at least this Monday, as some fire fighters will be on the scene 24-48 hours looking at any possible hot spots in the building that may rekindle, and due to possible collapsing of fire damaged walls. He said an insurance company inspection will be done as soon as possible. Until then, no fire damage estimate will be available.

He added the fire scene will not be able to be processed until Monday, or later to determine the cause of the fire.

He said, at the height of the blaze smoke could be seen from the buildings for several miles.

35 City fire fighters were on the scene, and the Jamestown Rural Fire Department was on stand-by to handle any city fire calls, while the downtown fire was being battle by city fire fighters.

Chief Reuther said no fire fighters were injured.

Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen praised the quick work and fire fighting efforts of the City Fire Department.

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Previously reported Friday….

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — All units of the Jamestown City Fire Department continue to pour water on two buildings in the 300 block of First Avenue North in Jamestown.
The contents of the North Star Building (the location of the former Midwest Motors) are having water poured onto it.

Fire fighters continue to keep watch on the former Elks building across the alley to the south of the North Star building.

It was reported earlier that sparks from the North Star building had landed on the roof of the former Elks building, starting a fire in that building’s elevator shaft. At 12:25 p.m., flames were seen coming from the top of the elevator shaft.

Other adjacent buildings, including a nearby apartment building at last report had not been affected by the fire. Some evacuations were reported as a precaution. The Gladstone Inn and Suites across the street has evacuated some guests due to smoke blowing in that direction.

Shortly before 10 a.m. Friday (Feb 17, 2012) all units of the Jamestown City Fire Department were called to the North Star Building in the 200 block of First Avenue North in Jamestown.
The building was fully engulfed in flames with heavy black smoke.
The city fire departments ladder truck was called to aid in aerial applications of water on the building.

Otter Tail Power Company was called to the scene to cut power to the block.
A 10 minute power interruption about 10:25 a.m., caused traffic lights to stop working.
Motorists should avoid the area, as streets in the area have been closed to traffic.

Previously Friday…

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — All units and all personnel, of the Jamestown City Fire Department are on the scene of North Star Building in the 200 block of First Avenue North. The call came in at just before 10-a.m.
KCSi-T.V. News crews on the scene report the building is engulfed in flames with heavy black smoke coming from the building. The ladder truck is currently on scene. Nearby buildings have been, or may yet be evacuated.
A report about 10:40-a.m indicated the fire had spread to the top floor of the Elks building next door to the south. Fire crews are pouring heavy water on that building as well. At 11:15 a.m. a report indicated sparks from the initial fire has reached the elevator shaft of the former Elks building. Fire crews were putting water through the shaft.

It’s not known if a power outage in a part of Jamestown was related to the fire. The outage occurred about 10:25 a.m., and was restored in about 10 minutes. Power in the alley between the building and the former Elks location has been cut by Otter Tail Power Company.
Motorists should be aware of traffic being rerouted around the fire scene.