The Toppenish Public Works Department is expected to be back in operation Thursday morning, less than a day after a fire destroyed its workshop.
“It might slow down some of our responses for water and sewer,” City Manager Lance Hoyt said Wednesday evening, as firefighters were spraying down the remains of the 108-year-old building at 8 Buena Way. The fire destroyed city vehicles, along with tools and equipment stored in the building. There were no serious injuries reported.
Hoyt said the department can also call on neighboring communities to help with public works needs.
In terms of property loss, the fire was one of the worst in recent Toppenish history, at an estimated $1 million in damage, Fire Chief Timothy Smith said.