Winfield responds to structure fire

   Winfield Fire/EMS Department responded to a structure fire about 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 11.

   When crews arrived they found a vacant two-story commercial structure with fire on the first floor and smoke throughout the building.

   Fire crews entered the building and began extinguishing the fire. 

   “Our personnel were making progress on extinguishing the fire at the north end of the building when conditions deteriorated and the fire rapidly grew on the second floor of the building towards the south end,” Winfield Fire Marshal Chad Mayberry said. 

   Crews then evacuated the structure and continued to battle the fire from the exterior. The fire was under control about 7 a.m., but firefighters remained on the scene to monitor for hot spots. Arkansas City Fire/EMS, Burden Fire and Udall Fire responded via automatic aid for assistance. Winfield Police and City of Winfield Public Utilities crews assisted at the scene as well. One aerial, four engines, two command vehicles with a total of 15 firefighters were on the scene. The fire is under investigation, according to Mayberry.