TA Express in Biggs burned to the ground; pumps survive; no one hurt
From the hilltop, it is apparent that nothing was safe from the flames inside the commercial structure that housed a laundry, showers, two restaurants and a convenience food store.
By Tom Peterson
Volunteer Firefighters throughout Sherman County were toned out this morning at about 5 p.m. to do battle with a blaze that eventually engulfed a 12,000-square-foot commercial building at TA Express in Biggs Junction this morning, March 7.
By 8:30 a.m. there was nothing left of the building except for the metal skeleton structure that was erected just three years ago.
TA Express’ Don Sidhu points to where fencing needs to be placed.
One of the owners of TA Express, Don Sidhu, was out on the front sidewalk taking stalk of the destruction. He worked with his partners on where to put up fences on the property to keep people from harm’s way.
The structure was no longer sound, said Robert Anglin, a training officer with North Sherman Rural Fire. “That facade might come down.”
Anglin said smoke was coming from the front and back doors when they arrived on scene.
“There was heavy smoke coming the roof and then it collapsed and we had 30-foot flames coming out of it,” he said. “No one was inside.”
Firefighters used tenders to fill two draft pools when engines used for a water source as Biggs Junction currently does not have fire hydrants - a problem that will soon be remedied.
Espna Coles owner of Biggs Three River Inn hotel
Anglin said some 25 firefighters were on scene battling the blaze as they used four water trucks to bring water to the scene and dump into portable drafting tanks as there are no fire hydrants in Biggs.
Four engines drafted and shot water on the towering flames.
Anglin said fire Hydrants with a water source were going to be installed in the near future.
Nextdoor, Espna Coles, owner of Biggs Three River Inn hotel, said the fire woke her up.
Gas Pumps were spared in the blaze.
“I was so afraid for our business,” Coles said, noting she could not go back to sleep. “I am so sorry for them” she said of Don and his business partners who own the TA Express franchise.
This morning, nothing remained but smoke ash and metal columns where the building used to stand.
The truckstop offered showers, restaurants and convenience food to travelers and employed some 40 people, according to Sidhu back in 2019.
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Read CCCNew’s original story about the blaze here.
