The cause of the blaze has been determined to be an electrical fire originating in the fire engine that was sitting outside the structure at the time. The affected engine was a Type-1 1,000-gallon engine as well as the 3,000-gallon water pump tender.

No one was in the station at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported with the incident, but damage to the property was severe. 

Aan email with photos from a concerned citizen were taken inside the fire station showing trash bags being placed over windows used to keep the heat in the winter, mold issues, sagging ceiling tiles, flooded storm drains and rodent issues.

Crew members at Engine Company 27 said their complaints have fallen on deaf ears despite being one of the busier firehouses in the city.

The area has deteriorated to the point that it may damage the fire trucks as they exit the building. In order to prevent this damage and to allow quick departure for fire calls, the city will repair the area.

The Clintonville City Council authorized the funds to pay for the repair project to come from the undesignated general fund balance. But if the city has leftover funds available at the end of the year in the capital fund account, those funds will be used first.

On Friday, Aug. 4, Fire Chief Bud Backer sent out a press release stating the Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded East Pierce the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, roughly $1.7 million for the next three years, in order to hire nine more firefighters to increase the department’s fire suppression abilities.