Blaze, Explosion Destroy Indiana Auto Business

Put a cutting torch and fuel line together in a garage, throw in a few propane tanks, and you can get explosive results.

A fire and explosion left a southeast-side auto business in ruins Thursday morning after a worker accidentally ignited a car's gasoline line while trying to remove its engine, authorities said.

When firefighters arrived at 20/20 Import Auto Parts, 2020 S. Anthony Blvd., just after 9:30 a.m., they found the business engulfed in flames and took a defensive stance against the blaze, staying outside the building because of concerns that it might collapse and propane tanks inside might explode, said Fort Wayne Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Miller.

As crews battled the fire, setting up a wide perimeter for safety, at least one large blast shook the area, department spokeswoman Stacey Fleming said.

"There was a pretty good explosion in there," Fleming said.

Only two people were inside when the blaze erupted, and they both escaped without injury, Miller said. But he described the building as a total loss, with its roof collapsed and the walls threatening to crumble, and fire officials called for excavators to tear down what remained of the structure. Authorities couldn't immediately place a dollar amount on the damage.

Five trucks and at least 30 firefighters were deployed to the fire, and some would remain at the scene for at least three hours, Miller said just before 11 a.m. Crews remained on the scene after 12:30 p.m., Fleming said.

A police officer near the scene said he felt tremors from the explosion while he sat in his car at Creighton Avenue, about half a block from Import Auto Parts. Meanwhile, the fire belched plumes of smoke visible from blocks away.

Though officials think the building housed some propane tanks, they didn't know Thursday morning exactly what set off the blast, Miller said.

Air-quality tests did not indicate a hazardous level of airborne toxins, and firefighters took precautions against toxic runoff into nearby sewer drains, Fleming said.

Authorities blocked South Anthony for hours between Wayne Trace and Creighton, and the street remained closed as of 12:45 p.m. Thursday, according to Fleming.

Thursday's fire marks the second blaze in less than three months to wipe out a Fort Wayne business. A massive inferno Oct. 30 destroyed the Momper Insulation warehouse at 2431 W. Main St.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service