In the afternoon of Monday, firefighters from several crews battled heavy flames at an auto business in north Lincoln. The fire was reported at Lincoln Cars near 23rd Street and Cornhusker Highway around 2:30 p.m. According to MJ Lierman, a spokeswoman for Lincoln Fire & Rescue, the fire started after someone heard a “pop sound.” Battalion Chief Mark Majors explained that a car caught fire and caused the flames to quickly spread to the building, though the cause of the vehicle fire remains unknown.
Due to strong winds, firefighters were unable to enter the building and had to adopt a defensive approach. They used aerial tactics to spray water from above, which is not commonly used in these situations. One of their main concerns was preventing the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings, which they were able to save from the flames. Unfortunately, Lincoln Cars sustained significant damage with the roof and west wall collapsing. There is also a risk of more of the building coming down as a result of this incident.
The estimated cost of repairs is $650,000 but fortunately no injuries were reported as a result of this incident. Majors emphasized on taking precautions in similar situations to protect both emergency responders and nearby properties while highlighting how quick response and coordinated effort from emergency crews helped prevent further damage.
