JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Firefighters with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department rushed to extinguish a fire Monday afternoon at a JEA plant on the Northside.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson confirmed the fire reached two-alarm strength, which means the fire required additional assistance. JEA told News4JAX that the fire was confined to the conveyor belt outside the main plant and that it had not affected generation capacity.
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Capt. Eric Prosswimmer, spokesperson for JFRD, said units were called to the scene at about 2 p.m. He estimated that the conveyor belt, which is used to move coal, was elevated to as high as 200 feet in the air, and multiple ladder trucks were used to get the fire out.
“You’ve got multiple reasons why it’s dangerous. You’re elevated off the ground in very thin walkways. It’s hot out, the fire is creating more heat. So our guys are getting exhausted trying to extend hose lines as far as they can,” Prosswimmer said. “They’re climbing up ladders or climbing over things or climbing through things or cutting things. So it’s a very labor intensive fire for us.”
JEA issued a statement that reads in part:
“There are no reports of injury or further incidents at this time and the situation appears to be under control. All appropriate regulatory and environmental agencies have been notified and JEA is assessing the fire’s impact on current NGS operations.”