By Linda Trischitta
Sun Sentinel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — First came explosions, then black smoke that could be seen for miles Wednesday around central Broward County as a blaze drew multiple firefighting crews to a chemicals warehouse that is just north of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
One firefighter injured his leg while fighting the fire and he was in stable condition when taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Deputy Chief Timothy Heiser said.
The call for help came about 7:54 a.m. to ConSeal International Inc., at 6681 NW 17th Ave., Heiser said.
Reached by phone, the company’s chief operating officer, Donna Gilmore Rossetti, said, “I don’t really have any comment. I have a lot going on right now, as you can imagine.”
“While enroute and probably because it was near the airport, somebody said it was a plane that went into the building,” Heiser said. “We confirmed with the [Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport] tower right away that it was not a plane crash.”
Heiser said the 24,000 square foot warehouse did not have a sprinkler system. It held an operating business but he did not know if it was for storage or chemical manufacturing. Explosions blew out roll-up doors on the south side of the warehouse and the roof collapsed.
“The outside walls may collapse, eventually,” Heiser said. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the agency’s fire marshal.
It was a very large fire that had to be fought from outside of the building because of its possibly combustible contents, the city official said. After about 90 minutes, the thick smoke was diffused to a light gray steam.
Hazardous materials crews from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue joined the effort; Pompano Beach Fire Rescue sent a ladder truck.
Heiser said three hours after the department was first called to the fire, it was under control.
“However due to the nature of the chemicals in that warehouse and adjacent warehouse, it’s a hazmat scene,” Heiser said. “We’re ensuring any chemicals that got wet aren’t leaking into the nearby canal and that containers holding chemicals still have their integrity.”
Huge #fire near #FortLauderdale Exec Airport is *NOT* a plane crash. It’s a warehouse fire @FtLaudFire is battling right now. @nbc6 LIVE 11a pic.twitter.com/Afi86E2VXc
— Vanessa Morales (@NewsDeskChica) January 18, 2017
Warehouse #fire today in fort Lauderdale @FTLCityNews @leefeldman @JackSeiler @rmckinzie8779 @clagerbloom 1 FF injury transport 2 Holy Cross pic.twitter.com/QKuWbEH2pm
— FLFR PIO (@FtLaudFire) January 18, 2017
Warehouse fire #FortLauderdale pic.twitter.com/Yv3ZNqck1T
— Chad Marino (@chadmarino) January 18, 2017