The Beecher Fire Protection District, part of MABAS Division 27, provided mutual aid to an extra-alarm fire that took place last week in Lowell, Indiana. According to Beecher Fire Chief Dave Lagesse, Beecher Truck 405—a 2006 Pierce Enforcer equipped with a 75-foot aluminum ladder—pumped over 640,000 gallons of water over the course of 10 hours at the scene. The incident occurred on Thursday, August 10th, at the former Rieter Automotive building located at 101 W. Oakley Avenue. As reported by *The Northwest Indiana Times*, a construction company working inside the abandoned facility accidentally sparked a massive fire just before noon on Wednesday.
Jimmy Harper, a project manager for BRT Indiana LLC, a recycling and sales company, stated that crews were moving equipment and cutting beams when an unknown material ignited. Harper, who was inside the building with 11 other workers, explained that the sprinkler system had been turned off, and the flames could not be controlled using fire extinguishers. The fire quickly escalated, leading to multiple alarm responses from local fire departments, including Beecher FD.
For more details, you can read the full article [here](#). A YouTube video of the event is available [here](#), and additional coverage can be found [here](#).
Chief Lagesse shared several powerful images capturing the intensity of the operation, including shots of Beecher Truck 405 in action. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to identify the photographer, and we're hoping someone can help us track them down.
Below are some of the dramatic photos taken during the fire:
![Lowell Indiana 4th alarm fire 8-10-11 Rieter Automotive Beecher FD Truck 405]( "Lowell_IN_4-11_110810_65993")
Two elevated master streams work at the Rieter Automotive property in Lowell, Indiana on August 10, 2011. Photographer unknown.
![Lowell Indiana 4th alarm fire 8-10-11 Rieter Automotive Beecher FD Truck 405]( "Lowell_IN_4-11_110810_6600")
A firefighter from Beecher, IL rests at the tip of Beecher Truck 405's ladder directing water on the massive fire. Photographer unknown.
![Lowell Indiana 4th alarm fire 8-10-11 Rieter Automotive Beecher FD Truck 405]( "Lowell_IN_4-11_110810_6603")
Another shot showing Beecher and Lowell Fire Department aerials working. Photographer unknown.
![Lowell Indiana 4th alarm fire 8-10-11 Rieter Automotive Beecher FD Truck 405]( "Lowell_IN_4-11_110810_6605")
A fire ball appears to erupt directly beneath the Beecher firefighter working the master stream, although there is quite a bit of space between them. Photographer unknown.
![Lowell Indiana 4th alarm fire 8-10-11 Rieter Automotive Beecher FD Truck 405]( "Lowell_IN_4-11_110810_6625")
As the dynamics of the fire change, the firefighter redirects the master stream. Photographer unknown.
![Lowell Indiana 4th alarm fire 8-10-11 Rieter Automotive Beecher FD Truck 405]( "Lowell_IN_4-11_110810_6622")
Heavy fire burns through the roof of what was the Rieter Automotive facility in Lowell, Indiana on August 10, 2011. Photographer unknown.
![Lowell Indiana 4th alarm fire 8-10-11 Rieter Automotive Beecher FD Truck 405]( "Lowell_IN_4-11_110810_6654")
Beecher Truck 405 was flowing water for 10 hours at the scene in Lowell, Indiana. Photographer unknown.
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