Massive Fire Destroys 1.2M SF Walmart Distribution Center
A fire visible from space broke out at a massive Walmart distribution center in Indiana on Wednesday, and firefighters are still working to put it out more than a day later.
More than 25 fire departments were called to extinguish the blaze at the 1.2M SF warehouse in Plainfield, Indiana. Firefighters worked through the night and were still battling to put out the fire as of Thursday morning, Plainfield Fire Chief Brent Anderson told Bisnow.
“The fire is not fully extinguished, that will take another day or so to fully accomplish,” Anderson told Bisnow in an email. “Cause and origin will take days or weeks to determine.”
Over 200 firefighters have been involved in efforts to extinguish the five-alarm fire, and one suffered a minor injury. Smoke was visible from miles away, with the National Weather Service even tweeting a satellite photo of the smoke plume.
Walmart’s Plainfield distribution center is close to the Indianapolis airport, and roughly a 30-minute drive from the state capital. The warehouse stocked goods including food, clothing and electronics, along with cardboard to box items for delivery, the Indianapolis Star reported.
About 1,000 employees were working in the warehouse when the fire broke out, but all were safely evacuated, according to the Star. Workers have not yet been told when they will be able to return to their jobs.
Plainfield’s Police Department told the Star that it could take some time before members of the public, including workers, are allowed back on the site. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is poised to lead an investigation into the fire’s cause, with help from other agencies.
