Flight operations at the Nevada County Airport continued uninterrupted after a deadly fire at Sierra Mountain Aviation located right next to the runway.
It started at the beginning of the workday at Sierra Mountain Aviation’s maintenance hangar. There were three airplanes inside.
The fire call came in as a rescue and flames had subsided by the time fire crews arrived.
"The fire sprinklers had activated and we did have to rescue one person, who unfortunately is deceased," Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Fire Marshal Terry McMahon said.
The fire sprinklers, along with a fire wall that split the building, saved the business next door. It was able to resume partial operations with just smoke damage.
But it was the smoke that may very well have been deadly.
"Fiberglass and the upholsteries and the things that they use in them, the smoke was dark and was down low to the ground," McMahon said. "Very toxic."