Several fire crews fought a large fire at an auto business in north Lincoln on Monday afternoon. The fire was reported at Lincoln Cars near 23rd Street and Cornhusker Highway around 2:30 p.m. According to LFR spokeswoman MJ Lierman, the fire started after a car caught fire and the flames quickly spread to the building. The cause of the vehicle fire is unknown.
Due to strong winds, firefighters were unable to enter the building and were forced to fight the fire from outside. The fire was declared a defensive fire due to its advanced state and danger to crews. Firefighters used aerial tactics, spraying water from ladders high in the air, a tactic that is not commonly used for fires of this size.
The biggest concern for firefighters was preventing the fire from spreading to the neighboring building, which was almost compromised. While crews were successful in saving the neighboring building, Lincoln Cars sustained significant damage. The building’s roof and west wall collapsed, leading to an estimated $650,000 in damages. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.