LOUISVILLE, Ky. --
Firefighters managed to escape a collapsing wall at a major fire Thursday night at a scrap yard in an industrial area just northwest of South 28th Street and Garland Avenue.
Members of the Louisville Fire & Rescue Arson Squad were back at the scene Friday morning after checking out the area Thursday night. So far, the cause of the fire is undetermined.
Fifty-five firefighters were at the scene Thursday, including some of them who were inside the building.
"At one point, we had a wall collapse in that building, which caused us to regroup and make sure we're all accounted for," said Sgt. Salvador Melendez of Louisville Fire & Rescue.
Despite the collapse, no one was injured fighting the blaze.
The fire was fueled by tree stumps, tires and other scrap. Some of the firefighters had to battle the flames from across railroad tracks, which border the industrial park.
Train traffic was stopped to do it.
"We've run into tires, old vehicles, which makes it hard to gain access to the property," Melendez said.
But firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to a four-story building right next to the burning building.
On Friday, the owner of the building, who said he runs a lawn service but didn't wish to be identified, said he picked up his mowing equipment at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, returned it at 7:30 p.m. and didn't see anything unusual.
He said he has no idea what happened.
"Immediately, we cannot determine anything that's fire-related as far as a cause goes," Melendez said.
Not only are firefighters investigating the cause of the blaze, but they're also looking at the contents of the building for possible code violations.
They're also looking at possible code violations for the building next to it, which firefighters said stores vehicle parts and tires.
S 28th St and Garland Ave., 40211-85.7990800000000238.24496010262811523630831
Arson Squad Investigates Fire At Scrap Yard
Copyright 2010 by WLKY.com. ©2010 Hearst Properties Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
