Downtown Louisville fire sees warehouse ‘COLLAPSE’ after going up in flames in Kentucky with smoke seen for miles
A WAREHOUSE collapsed during a massive fire in downtown Louisville on Tuesday.
Three firefighters were taken to the hospital after being hurt while helping to fight the blaze, which broke out around 7.30pm.
Louisville Fire Battalion Chief Bobby Cooper said neighbors reported smoke coming from an empty two-story warehouse spanning 40,000 square feet.
Firefighters initially tried to fight the blaze from inside the building before they were called outside, he said.
Plumes of smoke could be seen for miles as 100 firefighters and 30 fire trucks rushed to the area.
Surrounding buildings were evacuated, according to a local NBC affiliate, and the warehouse collapsed at around 8.15pm.
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The blaze was brought under control within an hour, the Louisville Fire Department reports.
One firefighter was taken to a nearby hospital during the fire fight after he was shocked by a downed power line.
He was awake and alert and is expected to recover.
Two others were also brought to nearby hospitals.
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No other injuries were reported.
The warehouse is located in the 3000 block of River Park Drive in the Russell neighborhood, immediately west of downtown Louisville.
Two neighboring properties sustained significant damage, according to the Louisville Fire Department.
The smoke from the blaze was so intense, it was picked up on the local weather radar.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and a power outage was affecting the area.
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Residents were urged to avoid the area as crews remained on the scene.
Anyone with information was urged to call 502-574-5673.