Pool business total loss after fire in Dix, IL

DIX, IL (KFVS) - Crews are on the scene of a business fire in Dix, Illinois on Monday, May 23.

The call came in around 9:12 a.m., according to Jefferson Fire Protection District Fire Chief Robert Beal.

He said Royal Fiberglass Pools manufactures swimming pools using several different kinds of chemicals including resin.

According to Beal, employees were working near a resin tank when a motor sparked a fire.

He said the fire burned anywhere between 1,000 and 1,500 degrees. It melted the support beams and the building crumbled.

"Water supply, being in a rural are like this getting the amount of water we needed at the right time was very crucial," Beal said. "That's why we called in I'm thinking about six other departments to assist us."

Chief Beal said the business is a complete loss but there were no injuries.

An employee of the business, Mason Wathan, told us there were 12 employees working there.

"One of my buddies was in there and got the fire extinguisher, tried to put it out, nothing we could do about it," Wathan said. "It was just after that, it was over with. The whole place was up in flames with in 30 minutes."

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, deputies were on the scene.

The Jefferson County Fire Protection District took the lead with mutual aid from Centralia, Weber, Salem,Kell, Irvington and Mt. Vernon city fire departments.

The Lifton Ambulance, Jefferson County EMA, American Red Cross, office of the State Fire Marshal and the Environment Protection Agency were also on scene.

Download the KFVS News app: iPhone | Android

Copyright 2016 KFVS. All rights reserved.