KILLEEN, Texas (June 7, 2023) - The Killeen Fire Department says no one was hurt, following a structure fire in the 1400 block of East Rancier Road at 5:37a.m. today.
A resident driving by called in the incident, citing dark smoke in the area near a commercial structure on the block.
A General Alarm assignment consisting of three engines, one tower ladder, one heavy rescue, one ambulance, two Battalion Chiefs, and one EMS Supervisor, for a total of 20 personnel, was immediately dispatched to the area.
The first unit arrived on scene within five minutes of the initial call and reported dark smoke in the area. Shortly after arrival in the area, the first arriving unit located the source of the smoke coming from a one-story vacant commercial office building.
Search and fire attack activities began immediately upon arrival with crews finding heavy, black smoke and high heat from ceiling to floor throughout the entire building.
Due to difficulty locating the seat of the fire, the alarm was upgraded and two additional engines with a total of six personnel and a Chief Officer responded to the scene.
The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes of arrival and crews remained on scene for an additional two hours performing overhaul due to heavy charring and fire damage throughout all areas of the structure.
There were no victims found inside the building during initial and secondary searches of the structure.
Rancier Road was shut down for most of the incident, due to the closest fire hydrant location being across the street from the structure.
All utilities to the vacant structure had been disconnected well in advance of this fire incident. The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
There were no injuries to any civilians or firefighters while operating on the scene. Rancier Road was reopened at approximately 8:30a.m. while firefighters wrapped up overhaul operations and returned their apparatus back in service.