Fire erupted late Sunday night at Spring Creek Airport completely destroying the old office building and motel that sits on the property.
According to Albany Fire Chief Robert Roeper, the only thing firefighters could do was make sure the fire was contained to the building initially involved.
“When we got there it was already fully involved,” Roeper said. “We couldn’t do anything.”
Roeper said residents who lived in the area, heard an explosion and then reported the fire. The initial call came into Clinton County Dispatch around 9:56 p.m. Sunday night.
Smoke and flames shot up into the air and with the full moon Sunday night, the billowing smoke could be seen from the 127 By-Pass.
The good news, no one was in the building when it caught fire according to authorities, however, there was no running electric to the building when it caught fire.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” Roeper said. “The fire started in the middle of the building and spread pretty quick. There were no doors or windows in the building and that’s what caused it to burn so fast. There was no power running to the building.”
In situations when people are not in harm’s way, sometimes it’s best for the fire department to let the flames run it’s course.
“We just let it clean itself up,” Roeper said.
Roeper said the Albany Fire Department had about seven fire fighting vehicles on hand just in case the flames got out of hand.
Roeper said Suzie Fire Department and Burkesville Fire Department were on stand-by to cover the county while Albany Fire Department was on scene.

Top photo, the Spring Creek Airport hotel and office building went up in flames Sunday night and according to Fire Chief Robert Roeper the building was a total loss. Below, Albany Firefighter William Corya ran the tanker to fill up the drop tank Sunday night.

One tanker was used briefly to wet the surrounding area to keep the fire from spreading . Below, a drop tank was set up in order to supply more water if needed.