Fire Damages Building In Downtown Sand Springs

A fire in downtown Sand Springs damaged several businesses late Thursday evening.  No one was in the building at the time, but one firefighter suffered minor injuries after being hit by a hose.

Firefighters got the call at 10:15 p.m.  The fire was just one block away from the fire station, but even with assistance from Tulsa and Sapulpa, it took firefighters about an hour to bring the fire under control.

The building is located on the corner of Second Street and McKinley Avenue and housed several businesses including the Sand Springs Beauty College and a couple of tax service businesses.

"So far there's only been one accident, too," Adam Hopper said. "A firefighter was over at the fire hydrant, the fire hydrant blew out and the hose went and hit him in the chest. He flew about 15 feet. He got back up and I went over there and shook his hand. I was proud of that man. I would have been gone."

Two employees of the beauty shop, Tina Sisney, who is an instructor and Jeff Tarwater, say they'll probably have to combine with another campus, until they can move into a new place.

"We're devastated," Tina Sisney said. "Yeah, I did my cosmetology here and now I'm doing my instructor and it's heartbreaking because there's a lot of good memories inside there. And the owner has busted her hind end trying to get the new school going and this is probably going to set her back." 

Rhonda Williams got her license at Sand Springs Beauty College 25 years ago. She's now the manager. It hurts to see the building in ruins.

"You just think of all the work that's gone into it, and all the memories and stuff that's been through it, and all that, it's like a part of your life is gone," Williams said.

Firefighters have determined the business on the west side of the building is safe to reopen, although there is some water and smoke damage.

Workers at the tax business on the other side will be able retrieve documents once it is safe, and after firefighters do their work to determine a cause.

Meanwhile, folks like Rhonda Williams find the damage hard to believe.

"This is like my home," Williams said. "This is my old alumni like thing."

Cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The city of Sand Springs is surveying the building to see how bad it has been damaged.