Arson suspected in fire at old Fort Chaffee

Firefighters walk back to the road Jan. 29 while barracks at Fort Chaffee, Ark., burn. Two fires began in unoccupied buildings that had no electricity, leading some police to suspect arson. Wind gusts of 55 mph hindered firefighting, but the fires were eventually contained.


Arson suspected in fire at old Fort Chaffee
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 30, 2008 10:11:53 EST

FORT SMITH, Ark. — Arson is suspected in fires fanned by winds exceeding 50 mph that spread through the old Fort Chaffee on Tuesday, engulfing about 150 vacant barracks but sparing the building where Elvis Presley received his military haircut 50 years ago.

Video of the scene showed flames raging sideways rather than upward because of the wind. By late afternoon, the fire had charred about 100 acres.

By 4 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters had tentatively brought the fire under control. Firefighters used bulldozers to cut firebreaks to prevent the fire’s movement to the east or south.

Elsewhere in Arkansas, the high winds felled trees and knocked out power to about 70,000 homes and businesses.

Sandy Sanders, the former executive director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, said the fires had missed Building 803, where Presley submitted to a buzzcut March 25, 1958.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_chaffeefire_080130/