$1.5 Million Of Boats Destroyed In Indianapolis Building Fire

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Indianapolis Fire Department officials are investigating how a winter storage facility used to house Just Add Water boats caught fire late Sunday night, destroying all 75. IFD says witnesses called 911 at 11:54 p.m. Sunday when they saw the building in the 4000 block of Bethel Avenue. IFD says crews arrived five minutes later to heavy fire coming out of the building, before a second alarm was sounded just before 12:15 a.m.

IFD officials say the boats, made primarily of fiberglass, contained a lot of fuel, oil and magnesium which made putting out the fire more difficult than usual. IFD says water intensified the burning magnesium and spread the burning liquids, leading to the decision to use cold fire, a product mixed with water that when used has six times the penetrating capability of water alone and the tremendous ability to absorb heat. IFD says this leaves a foam coating that won't allow the fire to re-ignite.

Nearly two-dozen IFD crews and two Beech Grove units were able to get the fire under control at 1:51 a.m. Although there were no injures, IFD officials say damage is estimated at $1.5. million.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Dept. and IFD are investigating the cause of the fire.

More: @IFD_NEWS

Watch: 75 Boats Destroyed In Indianapolis Storage Fire

Photo credit: Indianapolis Fire Department, Rita Reith