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The Ochelata Fire Department (OFD) calls on its neighbors to help extinguish a fire at a wax factory early Saturday morning.

OFD responded to the fire at Premier Wax, Inc., in Ochelata, 200 S. A Street, just before midnight on Friday. This occurred moments after the Town of Ochelata restored water to its residents following a water main break on Friday afternoon that caused officials to shut down the system for several hours.

Washington County Fire Department (WCFD) Chief Kary Cox said they were prepared to help if water was needed. Cox says it is customary for rural fire departments to notify neighboring agencies if there are water problems so they can provide mutual aid if a fire emergency were to occur while the resource is out. He says they were ready to go for such a situation. 

Ramona Fire, Bartlesville Fire, Owens Fire and Oglesby Fire assisted OFD and WCFD in extinguishing the flames. Fire trucks were traveling up and down 2900 Road going to hydrants to fill trucks with water.

Cox says the cause of the fire seems suspicious in nature. As a result, Cox says the State Fire Marshal's Office has been called. He says he believes there is an ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire at this time.

Premier Wax suffered extensive damage due to the fire. Cox says a large portion of the facility completely collapsed. He says the fire was fully involved prior to the arrival of area fire departments.

A fire occurred at the wax factory in Ochelata in June 2021.

We will have more information when it becomes available.