(Dunlap, Iowa) – A service station in Dunlap was destroyed by a large fire Wednesday morning. The incident took place at around 9:23-am., at the Rockin K Service Station (formerly Heller Implement) on N. 6^th Street, in Dunlap.

According to Dunlap Fire Chief Pat Cogdill, some employees were using a brake drum cleaner when the liquid spilled onto the floor. Because it was giving-off a strong odor, an employee, not realizing the fumes were flammable, plugged in a fan, which caused a flash fire. There were four people in the building when the fire started. All safely evacuated. One employee was transported by private vehicle, however, to seek treatment for a minor burn.

(Photo by Matt Gengler)

A utility company shut-off power to the structure. Numerous area fire departments responded to a call for Mutual Aid due to the presence of hazardous materials, including personnel from the Earling, Woodbine, Dow City, Denison, and Harlan Fire Departments. They were able to bring the blaze under control in about two-hours. Firefighters continued to look for hot spots for several more hours.

Image submitted to KJAN

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wednesday evening said they were investigating a related release of as much as 12-hundred gallons of fuels, oils, aerosols and other products to the Boyer River, from a stormwater ditch in Crawford County.

The DNR’s Atlantic Field Office was notified of the release resulting from the structure fire at Rockin K Solutions near the intersection of Highway 30 and County Road 37 in Dunlap. Much of the hazardous materials released was consumed in the fire, according to the DNR.

An unknown amount of product entered a storm drain, where it then flowed into a stormwater ditch to the Boyer River. No immediate impact to aquatic life was observed.