Several LFR crews battle fire at auto business in north Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Several crews battled heavy flames Monday afternoon at an auto business in north Lincoln.

Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded to Lincoln Cars near 23rd Street and Cornhusker Highway around 2:30 p.m.

The fire was called in after someone heard a “pop sound,” LFR spokeswoman MJ Lierman said.

Battalion Chief Mark Majors said a car caught fire, and the flames engulfed the building.  It’s unknown what caused the vehicle fire.

Due to strong winds, firefighters were ordered to not go inside the building, Majors said.

“This was made what we call a defensive fire from the very early moments that we got here,” Majors said. “Meaning that it was just a little too dangerous, and the fire was already advanced enough that we weren’t able to take crews inside like we normally would.”

So LFR had to take a different approach.

With firefighters climbing up ladders high in the air, they sprayed the fire from above.

Majors said they don’t often use aerial tactics on a fire like this.

“Typically, we’re using these on a lot bigger fires,” he said.

One of LFR’s main worries was that the fire would spread to the building next door, which almost happened.

“That was our biggest concern all along,” Majors said.

Crews were able to save the neighboring building, but Lincoln Cars wasn’t as lucky.

The building’s roof and west wall collapsed.  Majors said more of the building could come down.

LFR said there was $650,000 in damage.  No one was injured.