Incident # 21-02323 - At 16:24 Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a yard fire at 1088 Holly Ridge Ln. While Stations 9 and 36 were responding, 9-1-1 received reports that the fire had spread to a building on the adjacent property. The incident was upgraded to a structure fire sending several additional stations. Engine 9 arrived to find a small yard fire had spread to the Bee City Zoo property at 1066 Holly Ridge Ln. The fire destroyed a wooden fence, burned under two Conex Containers which were attached to the building and burned the siding and side doors on the kitchen and Honey Processing facility. Products and supplies in the Conex Containers were also on fire. The Gift Shop, Kitchen, Restaurant and Honey Processing Facility were filled with smoke. Firefighters deployed multiple hand lines to combat the fire and protect the animals and exposures. The fire burned within ten feet of the Tiger cage. No animals were injured. Crews had the fire under control within 20 minutes, but were on the scene for 3-1/2 hours performing overhaul and removing the burned products and supplies from one of the conex containers. The main building received damage to the north side of the building and the facility received smoke damage throughout the structure. A Forestry Commission Ranger responded to the scene and will handle the investigation.
Engine 9, Engine 19, Engine 36, Tender 9, Tender 19, Tender 27, Tender 35, Tender 36, Brush 9, Brush 27, Medic 9, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 101 and Car 112 responded. Captain Brian Rowe served as Incident Commander.
