Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2013 --- 8:50 a.m.

From the Town of Beloit Fire Department:

At 0113 hours, the Town of Beloit Fire Department, along with automatic mutual aid from the Town of Turtle Fire Department, were dispatched to Prairie Ave. Concrete, 3500 S. Prairie Ave, for a commercial fire.

The fire was discovered by Town of Beloit Police Officer Halvorsen. Officer Halvorsen reported that there was strong smoke and flames coming from a cement hopper.

The first engine crew to arrive on scene found heavy fire in the wood floor of the hopper. Because the hopper was connected to the building and the crew was not sure if the fire had breached the structure, a MABAS Working Still Alarm was activated. The Working Still Alarm brought units from City of Beloit, Orfordville and Harlem Roscoe, IL to the fire scene. It also brought units from Edgerton, Juda and South Beloit, IL to cover the Town of Beloit Fire Department response area.

Fire crews were able to knock the fire down in 15 minutes and stop it from entering the building.

Units remained on scene for a couple hours to extinguish the fire and search for hot spots.

The business was unoccupied at the time and no firefighters were injured. Damage estimates are believed to be approximately $20,000
The cause of the fire is ruled as undetermined but cannot rule out heat due to a propane torch being utilized to unthaw a water pipe.