Fire destroys historic Chaffee properties

story from KFSM 5 News, a content partner with The City Wire

Skies over Fort Chaffee were fire red Wednesday night as World War II era buildings went up in flames, according to this story from KFSM 5 News.

Fort Smith Police said the historic Fort Chaffee hospital caught fire late Wednesday night (Aug. 3). At least four buildings were engulfed by flames and at least two buildings burned to the ground.

"With a shift in the wind, these conditions, this thing, could get out of hand and go a long ways in a hurry, " said Fort Smith Fire Chief Mike Richards.

Several fire departments including Fort Smith, Barling, White Bluff and Fort Chaffee were on scene before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday working to get the fire contained.
Firefighters worked to keep the fire contained to one area, even if that area was a piece of history.

"If the area caught fire, all we could do is fight it from the perimeter and not let it spread to the rest of chaffee and the military enclave. That’s what we’re doing now, keeping it within the old hospital complex," Richards said.

The buildings contain dangerous chemicals, but Richards says the firefighters and nearby residents were not in danger.

"With lead paint and asbestos, as long as we’re not breathing the smoke we’re fine. As long as no one else is breathing the smoke they’re fine," he said.

Because it was too dangerous for firefighters to get too close and inhale the toxic smoke, Richards said they let the historic hospital and nearby buildings burn to the ground.

“The buildings are made of all wood and other combustible (materials), lots of grass between them, and they’re very close in proximity. With all the dry conditions and heat, they were just prime to burn very quickly," he said.

Eyewitnesses told 5NEWS three to four buildings were on fire around 11 p.m. Another eyewitness said she saw huge flames from her home on East Front Drive in east Fort Smith and smoke was filling the sky.

Several historic Fort Chafee buildings burned Jan. 29, 2008 when an electrical fire was spread by high winds. It is the largest fire in Fort Smith Fire Department history. About 150 buildings and about 100 acres were damaged or destroyed on Fort Chaffee during that fire.

Police say no homes were threatened by Wednesday night’s massive fire.