A fire that destroyed Westlake’s fire department Tuesday night started in the kitchen around the stove, the city’s fire chief said.
"They were out on an accident call,” Westlake Fire Chief Richard Whitten said. “Medics cleared the accident. They got back here and found the station on fire.”
The firefighters had been cooking dinner before the accident call, but turned off all the burners, Whitten said.
"It's probably the result of a towel or a hot pad or something that just got too close to the warm burner,” he said.
Firefighters from the surrounding towns of Keller, Southlake, Roanoke and Trophy Club raced to help.
Westlake firefighters wrapped up their call and also rushed back.
But it was too late.
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"They immediately made an interior attack, got it knocked down pretty quick, but it was up in the attic," the chief said.
For now, Westlake firefighters will work out of a nearby station in Southlake.
"Service is uninterrupted,” Whitten said. “We'll continue running service as usual."
He said the fire is a big loss for the department.
"It's just like someone having a fire at their house,” he said. “It does hit home. It just shows that none of us are immune from it. It can happen to anybody."
