At 1418 a knock at the main stations door alerted Alexis firefighters to a van on fire beside the Country Corner Store at the Alexis crossroads. Engine 201 advised Gaston Communications to alert our volunteers and have Engine 203 dispatched from Base 2 due to the van being beside the building. Engine 201 arrived with a crew of three to find the van that was full of store merchendice fully involved with flames threatening the roofs overhang of the store. The crew from Engine 201 pulled the front jump line and made quick work of the fire. Engine 203s crew of four arrived and laddered the building and checked for extension in the stores roof and overhang. Command Chief Robinson called for a control time at 1423. The fire was contained to the van but the vinyl siding on the store at the CD corner melted due to the heat. Quick response by the Alexis Volunteers saved the store from significant damage but the van was a total loss. Both Alexis units operated on scene for about an hour.
