A large fire broke out yesterday night at an Indianapolis auto body shop, resulting in the death of an adult dog and five puppies. The blaze, which ignited around 10:35 p.m. at El Palomar Auto Body Repair and Granite Customs, was fought by firefighters who responded to the scene at the 2100 block of Adams Street. Flames were visible from the nearby interstate, with an INDOT camera capturing the intensity that went on for more than an hour.
According to FOX59, the fire began when the shop owner and his two nephews were filling an oil heater used to warm the building. They accidentally mixed the oil with gasoline, igniting a fire that quickly spread through the structure. "They were using what they thought was the appropriate fuel to put into the heater, but it was something that had already been mixed with gasoline," said Rita Reith, battalion chief and public information officer for the Indianapolis Fire Department. Due to the fire's intensity, firefighters were forced to conduct exterior operations only.
No civilians or firefighters were injured in the incident, but a devastating loss of animal life was confirmed by the Indianapolis Fire Department. The dog and puppies were within an apartment attached to the shop, where the shop's owner resided. These details were obtained from the WISH-TV report, which also noted that the fire was deemed accidental, caused by the improper use of a propane gas heater.
Crews managed to control the fire after an hour of combat, but returned early on Tuesday morning to handle remaining hotspots, as reported by the Indianapolis Fire Department. A business listing identified the location as one of the sites for Granite Customs, a kitchen and bath countertop maker, according to a statement obtained by WTHR. The extent of damage to the structure has yet to be determined.
