IFD: Oil Heater Causes Massive Fire At East Side Body Shop
Source: INDOT / INDOT
INDIANAPOLIS — A large body shop caught fire late last night sending smoke and flames high into the sky over Indianapolis.
Firefighters were called to the east side near Keystone and Rural not far from I-70 shortly after 10:30 Monday night. As they approached they could see the flames from the fire at the El Palomar Auto Body Repair and Granite Customs businesses shooting into the air.
They were able to get the fire put out about four hours later.
The owner of the body shop said that workers use an oil heater to keep warm during the winter months. He told firefighters that that is what started the fire.
“(The owner) told firefighters that they used an oil heater for the shop to stay warm and filled it with about 5 gallons of used oil just before dinner,” said IFD battalion chief Rita Reith. “They began to smell gas and realized that the used oil had been mixed with gasoline.”
Reith says that ultimately resulted in a fire that the owner says he tried putting out with a fire extinguisher but to no avail.
No people were hurt in the fire, but a dog and five puppies perished.
