Late Wednesday fire destroys vehicles, damages structure near Big Divide

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

A late-night fire broke out Wednesday evening at 15099 U.S. Highway 190, near the intersection of Highway 190 and Big Divide Road. 
Several vehicles and a structure were either damaged or destroyed as a result of the fire, said Lampasas Fire Chief Reece Oestrich. 
“We were dispatched at approximately 22:59,” said Oestrich. “We sent four trucks, to include a structural truck, brush truck, a command vehicle and a support vehicle.” 
There was no exact timeframe for getting the blaze under control, but Oestrich said his personnel arrived back at the Lampasas Fire Department around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. 
Oestrich said no homes or other nearby structures were damaged. A Valero gas station was not far from the fire.
The property where the fire occurred is just outside the Copperas Cove city limits and is in  Lampasas County, so the Copperas Cove Fire Department responded in a supporting role and will continue to provide support to Lampasas, said Deputy Fire Chief Gary Young. 
On Wednesday night, Copperas Cove responded with two fire engines, a brush truck, two command vehicles along with 10 personnel. 
Thursday morning, investigators from both Copperas Cove and Lampasas were on site, examining the scene of the fire. 
Oestrich said the cause of the fire is unknown as of Thursday morning but it continues to be under investigation.