GARY, Ind. (WBBM Newsradio) — Firefighters in Gary spent more than 18 hours Sunday battling a massive blaze at a pallet company that later reignited, damaging an adjacent property, officials said.
The fire was first reported around 2:30 a.m. at Collins Pallet Recycling, 1584 Blaine St., according to the Gary Fire Department. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames pouring from the roof of the large commercial building.
Authorities said large stacks of wooden pallets stored both inside and outside the facility created an "extremely high fuel load," causing the fire to spread rapidly.
Gary Fire Department
While fighting the flames, firefighters found a gas can near one of the entrances. Investigators said the discovery, along with the timing of the fire, are among the factors under investigation.
Less than five hours later, crews returned to the property when embers from the initial blaze ignited a second fire in the outdoor pallet yard. That fire consumed more pallets, trailers, forklifts and other heavy equipment, the department said.
Gary Fire Department
An adjacent property was also damaged. No injuries were reported.
The Gary Fire Department is working with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to determine the cause and origin of both fires.
