Photos By Dale Riggs
Story By John McCarthy

On Thursday, December 13th at 4 PM, firefighters from the Vine Grove Fire Department responded to a report of a possible fire in the town's business district.

Chief Steve New arrived on the scene within minutes to find a fully involved commercial garage fire in a cinder block and concrete building. He immediately requested mutual aid from nearby Radcliff Fire Department.

Crews from both departments quickly pulled attack lines and began an aggressive interior attack in the basement and office areas while others fought to extinguish the burning petroleum products in the garage itself. Twenty-five firefighters battled for 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. The fire apparently started when gasoline fumes reached a space heater and exploded.

Conditions were further complicated as the fire had occurred at the close of the Ft. Knox business day and hundreds of Fort Knox employees who live in the vicinity were trying to pass through town on their way home.

All employees of the garage were able to escape the explosion and subsequent fire.