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Fire scorches Sinclair

US Highway 20 truck stop a total loss

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Volunteer firefighters work the scene of a major fire Tuesday morning at Sinclair, 2325 Marshall Ave., Rockwell City. The fire destroyed a semitrailer truck and the main structure of the store. No injuries were reported.

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.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Volunteer firefighters shoot stream of water into the rubble after a major fire erupted at Sinclair outside of Rockwell City Tuesday morning. The driver of the semitrailer truck was treated for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.

“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.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Manson and Rockwell City firefighters use the snorkel truck to battle a major fire at Sinclair, 2325 Marshall Ave., Tuesday morning.

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.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
A major fire at Sinclair Tuesday originated at a semitrailer truck that was parked at one of the pumps, according to Rockwell City Fire Chief Shane Voith. The fire then spread to the main building. The truck and building are both a total loss.

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.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Even after firefighters got a better handle on the structure fire at Sinclair, flames continued to emerge for several minutes on Tuesday.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Piles of rubble were all that remained after a major fire erupted at Sinclair outside Rockwell City on Tuesday.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Rockwell City Fire Chief Shane Voith reported seeing a plume of black smoke from miles away as his department was called to Sinclair Tuesday for a major structure fire.

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