By Allen Powell II
Times-Picayune
Copyright 2007 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company
BELLE CHASSE, La. — A multi-alarm fire at a Belle Chasse warehouse Thursday drew firefighters from West Jefferson and stymied afternoon rush hour traffic along busy Louisiana 23.
No one was injured in the blaze at Hose Specialty & Supply Co., 9433 Louisiana 23, which was reported shortly after 2 p.m.
Company Vice President Charles Schenck said he believes insulation was ignited by a spark from a blowtorch workers were using to perform repairs in the rear upstairs portion of the building. The workers alerted the building’s 30 to 35 employees, who evacuated the plant, he said.
The company’s major product uses a rubber material that is fireproof, Schenck said.
Crews from the Terrytown, Marrero-Harvey, Marrero-Ragusa, David Crockett, Westwego and Nine Mile Point fire departments in West Jefferson assisted Plaquemines Parish firefighters.
Northbound motorists along Louisiana 23 were redirected, while traffic traveling south was blocked near the scene of the fire.
Hose Specialty, which has several locations, including one in Harvey, sells hoses, valves, gaskets and other supplies.
Schenck said the 32,000-square-foot stone and metal warehouse, which is about 35 years old, did not have a sprinkler system because of the age of the building. He said he is doubtful the company would rebuild the Belle Chasse site and said the employees would be relocated to other sites.
Nevertheless, he said business wouldn’t shut down, as workers would begin reassessing inventory today.
“We’re getting ready for a lot of work,” Schenck said. “We’ll be ready to go again tomorrow.”