Units from several fire departments responded to a three-alarm blaze at Glisson Salvage about 4pm Wednesday.
A worker at the business said he was working in the center of several long, narrow buildings when a colleague yelled for help as a car he was draining of gasoline caught fire.
The witness says he tried to put the fire out with hand extinguishers but it spread too quickly and had fully engulfed the building where he was working by the time the first fire units arrived.
Several times, the billow of black smoke began to lighten as two snorkel trucks poured water on the advancing flames.
But drone video showed the fire moving along the row of buildings and rekindling as it threatened a 500 gallon fuel tank on the property.
Firefighters isolated he fuel tank and tuned their attention to a large number of cars in the fire’s path.
Witnesses reported hearing “pop, pop,. pop” sounds as the tires caught fire and blew, throwing up even more inky black smoke.
Firefighters facing flames fed by rubber, gasoline and batteries called in a truck from, Evansville Regional Airport to lay foam in an attempt to darken down the fire.
Evansville Water and Sewer Utility workers reported at least five water main breaks as the system supplied water pressure for firefighting.
Units were on the scene well after 10pm putting out hot spots.
St. Joseph Avenue between Allens Lane and Mill Rod was closed for several hours, but is now open.
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