By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The main building where the trusses are built at the Heartland Truss Plant was completely destroyed by fire early Saturday morning.

The large 200 foot by 112 foot building is “a complete loss,” according Ellis County Rural Fire Chief Dick Klaus, “including five forklifts inside.”

The 30 firefighters from Ellis County, Hays, Victoria and Ellis, were able to save two other buildings to the east and south of the massive blaze.

Two investigators from the state fire marshal’s office arrived at the scene late Saturday morning and subsequently ruled the cause of the fire as “undetermined” and as having started “in a break room,” Klaus said.

“No telling when it started,” Klaus added.

A passerby called 911 at 4:40 a.m. thinking the fire was in a nearby trailer home park. When the Hays Fire Department arrived, they determined the fire was in the truss plant, located at 710 General Custer Road, which is south of the Highway 183 bypass and outside city limits.

Ellis County rural firefighters then were dispatched from companies 4, 5, 6 and 8. The cities of Ellis and Victoria also responded.

There were no injuries.

Klaus said firefighters were on the scene until 2:30 p.m. Saturday.  The American Red Cross was also on the scene for about eight hours and “served two meals to firefighters and law enforcement officers,” according to Hays ARC volunteer Pete Peterson.

A damage estimate was not immediately released.