INDIANAPOLIS --
A hangar near the old Indianapolis airport terminal caught fire Sunday morning, sending plumes of thick smoke across the city's west side.
More than 40 fire units from Indianapolis, Plainfield, Wayne Township and Decatur Township were called in to fight the blaze, which began just before 9 a.m.
The 30,000-square-foot, multilevel structure made of corrugated steel is about the size of a football field, said IFD Capt. Rita Burris.
Investigators said they believe the fire started in the second-floor upholstery shop.
"It was kind of where the heaviest amount of fire was at the beginning," Burris said.
Two employees who were working at the time all got out safely.
ComLux, which maintains and refurbished airplanes, leases the building from the Indianapolis Airport Authority. Company officials said three private planes were in the hangar when the fire started.
Originally, firefighters were concerned about jet fuel in the building, but later learned that fuel from planes brought into the building is off loaded prior to entry.
It took firefighters more than three hours to contain the fire, but they were still knocking down hot spots Sunday evening.
"Firefighters are still battling the fire as it travels across the tar and rubber membrane that sits on top of a metal corrugated decking," Burris said.
Because of the smoke, airport officials were forced to close a runway.
"It has not affected airport operations at all. We have to other runways we're operating at this time," said Mike Medvescek with the Airport Authority.
Damage to the building was estimated at $7 million, not including any damage to the planes inside.
Fire Does $7M In Damage To Airport Hangar
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