Truck fire on Eighth Avenue

The Emporia Fire Department battled through temperatures of around 98 degrees to extinguish a truck — which looked like an old U-Haul — that was on fire Saturday afternoon on Eighth Avenue between Commercial and Merchant streets.

“We arrived on scene, and the cab was fully engulfed, and engine 1 (from Station 1) pulled a line, and we began to extinguish it,” said firefighter paramedic Ryan Conley, who commanded his first fire.

A fire engine from Station 2 protected against exposures, just in case, Conley said. A Lyon County Rural Fire District No. 4 truck, which was from Station 1, extinguished tires that were found in the back of the truck with Class A foam.

The fire occurred in front of Whiskey Throttle bar.

“The building itself was not affected at all,” Conley said. “No heat damage. No fire damage. No smoke inside the structure either.”

The owner of the truck came after the Fire Department arrived on scene, he said. The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation.

The Emporia Police Department diverted traffic.