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News Release
Contact: Lt. Jason Powell
423-483-5819
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Books and Business Saved From Fire
The Johnson City Fire Department was called respond to a business fire at the Overmountain Press and Saber Printers, 335 W. Walnut Street, today at approximately 1:00 p.m. for a reported fire in the business.
Upon arrival, Fire crews found the owners, employees, and Johnson City Police Department Officers on the scene of the fire. The owners advised the fire was in a book storage area near the rear of the building. The fire was reportedly burning in the ceiling tiles around a fluorescent-light fixture. The owners reported the fire had been burning for several minutes, and they had attempted to extinguish the fire with portable fire extinguishers.
Fire Crews entering the building from the rear alley were meet with dense smoke conditions inside the building. The fire was visible in the ceiling tiles in the center of the storage area. Crews were able to rapidly extinguish the fire with minimal water. The fire was quickly contained within 6-minutes of arrival.
The entire printing and publishing company was filled with the dense smoke from the ceiling tiles. Coincidentally, the tiles were of a similar type to the ceiling tiles that contribute to the heavy-dense smoke that contributed to the 16 fatalities at the John Sevier Center on Christmas Eve in 1989.
Damage from the fire was contained to the ceiling and lighting in the storage area. Extensive overhaul was conducted in the storage room to insure the fire would not rekindle in the cardboard boxes and books. Water damage was minimal, but several cases of books were covered with the dry chemical from the portable extinguishers used by the owners prior to the Fire Department’s arrival.
The Johnson City Fire Department would like to remind the public that portable extinguishers should be used to control only small, minor fires. If the fire does not easy go out, Please stop attempting to suppress the fire, call the 9-1-1, and everyone evacuate the building immediately. Even if the fire is extinguished, Please call 9-1-1 to request the Fire Officials to investigate to insure complete extinguishment.
The services of the Johnson City Fire Department are provided to the Citizens of Johnson City for their welfare and well-being. Please do not hesitate to call with your emergency. Any delays in notification can severally increase danger to lives and lose of property.
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