Fire destroys north Lincoln auto shop, causes at least $500,000 in damage

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Several Lincoln Fire & Rescue crews battled flames Thursday morning at a building in north Lincoln.

The fire was called just before 8 a.m. at E Z Automotive near 36th and Adams streets.

Smoke could be seen for miles, and a user of the NOW Local News App shared a video showing a plume of smoke.

LFR Fire Chief Dave Engler said additional crews were called in to help put out the fire.

“When they arrived, they found the fire was pretty advanced, and there has been some collapse of the roof and portions of the structure prior to their arrival,” he said.

Crews shut down nearby railroad tracks as they battled the flames.

The fire did not spread to any other buildings, Engler said, and no one was injured.

An investigation into what sparked the fire is ongoing.

The building is a total loss.

LFR spokeswoman MJ Lierman said several vehicles inside the building were damaged or destroyed.

The damage totals at least $500,000, and LFR is still assessing the damage to some vehicles in the parking lot.

Some vehicles in the parking lot were also damaged by the fire.

The shop manager of Alpha Metals across the street, Rick Estel, said he could see the smoke from his house in Havelock.

“I was actually on my way to work this morning, and I thought it was actually our building, so I was kind of hauling butt to get here,” he said. “I noticed it was E Z motors.”

Estel said he’s known the owner for 20 to 30 years and is not going to let his friend struggle alone.

He plans on helping the owner find a temporary space to keep his business going.

“I’m going to try to help him best I can to try to get him somewhere else for him to go,” he said.

This is a developing story.  Check with Channel 8 for updates.