UPDATE: Wichita fire investigators say a forklift accidently punctured a crate carrying propane cylinders, setting off a chain reaction that caused a fire at a loading dock area at the Coleman Company plant. The three-alarm fire damaged the loading dock area and a building on the east side of the Coleman complex at 37th Street North and Hydraulic.
No injuries were reported, although an employee was checked by EMS crews at the scene. The extent of the damage is still being determined by fire investigators and Coleman officials.
(previous story)
A three-alarm fire left a building at a north Wichita company with significant damage late Wednesday afternoon. The fire was reported around 5:15 p.m. in the 2100 block of East 37th Street North, between Hydraulic and Hillside.
Crews reported propane cylinders on fire and exploding, and flames were extending into the building. A second alarm and then a third alarm was turned in. First responders were able to take control of the situation fairly quickly, and prevent the fire from spreading. Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow said the propane bottles were carried by strong north winds into a field where crews could get them under control.
Snow said EMS crews checked out an employee and he refused treatment at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
There was extensive damage to the loading dock area of a building on the east side of the Coleman complex. The cause is under investigation and a dollar estimate on the damage was not immediately available.
37th Street North was closed to traffic east of Hydraulic while crews worked at the scene.
