On Monday afternoon, several fire crews battled a massive blaze 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 LFR spokeswoman MJ Lierman, the inferno began when a car caught fire and the flames rapidly spread to the building. The cause of the vehicle blaze remains unknown.
Due to strong winds, firefighters were unable to enter the building and were forced to fight the fire from outside. As a result, the fire was declared a defensive one, putting crews at risk. Firefighters employed aerial tactics, spraying water from ladders high in the air, a technique rarely used for fires of this magnitude.
The biggest concern for firefighters was preventing the blaze from spreading to the neighboring building, which almost succumbed to the flames. Despite their efforts, Lincoln Cars sustained significant damage. The building’s roof and west wall collapsed, leading to an estimated $650,000 in damages. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
