Fire scorches Sinclair
US Highway 20 truck stop a total loss
ROCKWELL CITY — A major fire ignited at Sinclair off U.S. Highway 20 Tuesday morning, destroying a semitrailer truck and the gas station building in its path.
The fire started at a semitrailer truck parked near one of the pumps, according to Rockwell City Fire Chief Shane Voith.
The driver got out of the truck after hearing or seeing something at the back of the truck, Voith said. At that point, a fire started.
The driver was later treated for smoke inhalation, but didn’t suffer any major injuries, Voith reported. The driver was transported to Pocahontas Community Hospital.
The fire was reported at about 10:35 a.m.
“We could see a huge plume of black smoke from Rockwell City,” said Voith.
The gas station, 2325 Marshall Ave., is located north of Rockwell City near U.S. Highway 20 and Iowa Highway 4.
Customers and employees were able to get a safe distance away from the fire before it completely engulfed the building. No other injuries have been reported.
Voith said a cause will not be determined.
“It’s burned to the ground,” Voith said.
The flames shot high enough to blacken the shell where the semi was parked.
A charred trailer frame and wheels without tires were about all that remained of the semi.
The roof of the main Sinclair structure ultimately caved in. A pile of steel and rubble was all that could be seen of the store by the afternoon.
More than $5 million in damage is estimated, according to Voith.
An investigator from the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office was on scene.
Firefighters from Rockwell City, Manson, Jolley, Lytton, Pomeroy and Knoke, responded. Calhoun County EMS, Pocahontas Community Hospital Ambulance, Rockwell City Police Department, Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement and Iowa State Patrol were also on scene.