By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
“Looks like the tweakers finally did it.”
That was a comment expressed by one Willows resident during a fire that destroyed a multi-family structure at East Walnut and North Yolo Streets Tuesday morning.
It is presently unknown whether illicit drug use or manufacturing had anything to do with the fire, but the vacant building certainly would have been a good place for such activities, and was indeed the target of complaints to the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office.
The fire was reported shortly after 5 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22. An approaching sheriff’s deputy reported seeing smoke in the area, then, as he got closer, flames.
At about 5:12 a.m., the Orland and Artois Fire Departments were called to provide mutual aid at the “fully involved structure fire.”
At 5:13 a.m., Willows Engine 3 was at the scene.
An Artois unit began responding at 5:14 a.m.
Emergency responders began evacuating nearby residences.
At 5:17 a.m., Engine 75 began responding. A minute later, Orland Engine 27 began responding.
A deputy requested a “lift assist” for an individual at 137 North Yolo Street, apt. #2.
A responder was heard broadcasting. It was not clear what he was saying, but it included the words, “poor visibility.”
The sheriff’s dispatcher was asked to call for Glenn County Public Works in order to assist with road closures.
At about 5:24 a.m., the Bayliss Fire Department was called to assist by providing an engine and “city coverage” while Willows firefighters were at the scene of the fire.
The dispatcher was asked to request PG&E to respond to the fire, and an ambulance was asked to respond “Code 2” (no lights or sirens) for precautionary reasons.
At 5:27 a.m., it was reported that the fire was confined to the main body of origin.
Chief 11 arrived at the scene at 5:29 a.m. A minute later, Orland Chief 20 arrived.
Firefighters were warned that the structure’s roof collapsed at one of its corners, and a line was down.
At 5:33 a.m., Orland Engine 27 arrived.
At 5:35 a.m., Glenn County Sheriff’s Sgt. Grant Lemmon told the dispatcher that the residence to the north of the fire had been evacuated.
Engine 14 arrived at 5:38 a.m. Just before, a Glenn County Community Service officer reported being at the scene, and was told to go to the intersection of East Sycamore and North Yolo Streets for traffic control.
At 5:48 a.m., the Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatcher reported that PG&E would be arriving in about 45 minutes.
The incident commander asked if the dispatcher had heard back from the Bayliss Fire Department.
The dispatcher replied that she had, and the Bayliss firefighters were on the way.
Just then, a Bayliss volunteer reported that they were just outside the Willows city limits, and asked if they should respond to the area of the fire or elsewhere. They were requested to go to the fire, but to be ready if Willows should get another emergency call.
The dispatcher reported that the road department (public works) had arrived at the scene.
Sgt. Lemmon asked a patrol deputy to respond to the structure fire to assist with traffic control.
The incident commander asked the dispatcher to contact Cal Water in order to increase the water pressure at the scene.
Sgt. Lemmon asked a sheriff’s volunteer to control traffic at West Colusa and Walnut Streets.
At about 7:50 a.m., the Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatcher was asked to contact the Maxwell Fire Department in order to provide city coverage for two or three hours while Willows volunteers engaged in clean-up at the fire scene.
Orland units were released from the scene at about 7:59 a.m.
At about 8:46 a.m., a secondary search was conducted at the fire scene. No victims were found in the structure.
Complete loss of the multi-family residence was reported at about 9:45 a.m.
Maxwell volunteers were released at 10:50 a.m.
At 2:40 p.m., a Willows volunteer reported a person inside the burnt building. The individual left a minute later, before a deputy arrived.
One has to wonder whether this will be the last trespasser at this “not-so-attractive nuisance.”
The Glenn County Observer 