Fire consumes Arden area home, business

January 16, 2012

Firefighters work to stop the inferno last Wednesday. Photo by David Pehl.

Arden Fire Department Fire District No. 7 and Colville Fire Department Fire District No. 3 firefighters responded to a two- alarm fire at Larry Christy's Tri-County Small Engine Repair, 419 Highway 395, south of Colville last Wednesday.
When the Arden Fire Department arrived on scene at 11:34 a.m. after receiving the page at 11:32 a.m., they found the residence and an adjacent shop fully engulfed in flames.
According to Arden Fire Department Chief Joe Paccerelli, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“Thankfully, no one was injured and as far as we know, the home-owners have insurance,” Paccerelli said.
Seven units from the Arden Fire Department worked with five units from the Colville Fire Department to quell the blaze that consumed the 1,800-square-foot structure.
Avista Utilities crews, the American Red Cross, Stevens County Sheriff’s Department and EMTs were also present.
An ATV on a trailer and a truck were pulled away from the side of the home by Arden Fire Department firefighters.
The Arden fire crews were able to finish at the fire scene around 3:20 p.m.
Though the fire technically occurred in Fire District No. 3, its location was so close to Fire District No. 7 that both departments responded to the emergency.
Paccerelli praised the combined efforts of both departments and all who assisted in putting out the fire.
“The Colville Fire Department, dispatch, the Stevens County and City of Colville personnel who showed up are all to be commended,” Paccerelli said. “From a fire chief’s standpoint, it all went seamlessly, if that can be said about a fire. Any time you can work together to take stress and confusion away from a situation it really helps, and everything just clicked.”
CFD Chief Jeff Pitts was unavailable for comment by telephone at this publication of this online article.
To see last Wednesday’s fire that was caught on video with a AFD fire truck dashboard camera, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lss8j8nlhs.