Massive fire erupts at Louisville GE building as city is beset by floods

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/03/louisville-ge-plant-fire-kentucky-floods

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A fire erupted on Friday morning at General Electric’s Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky, shutting down production at the sprawling manufacturing center that employs thousands.

The fire broke out in a non-production building, creating huge columns of smoke as more than 100 firefighters battle the blaze.

Louisville was not only suffering from fire on Friday – flooding in the area forced authorities to rescue more than 100 people.

Building 6 at the GE park, which was said to be used for storage, reportedly collapsed sometime before 8.30am, according to local media. It was evacuated and all occupants of the building were reportedly safe.

GE spokeswoman Kim Freeman said there were no known injuries, and added that the building engulfed in flames was used for offices and storage, and was also used by a private supplier distribution centre.

News media reports said the cause of the fire was not yet known. Freeman said production had ceased while firefighters battled the blaze.

GE makes a range of appliances at the facility, including washing machines, dryers, dish washers, refrigerators and water heaters.

Residents near Louisville fire have been given a "Shelter in Place" order by officials. http://t.co/ko22Johk6L pic.twitter.com/fZV3QvwM1Z

Local station WDRB-TV quoted Harrods Creek fire chief Kevin Tyler as saying the fire at the General Electric park was a six-alarm fire, and that more than 100 firefighters were at the scene.

WZTV Fox 17 reported that residents had been given a “shelter in place” order.

Tyler told WDRB-TV it had been a challenge for his men to fight the massive fire and conduct numerous water rescues.

Louisville MetroSafe spokeswoman Jody Duncan said 116 water rescues had been made since 1am on Friday. There was also a mandatory evacuation for the first floor of an apartment building, Duncan said. Elsewhere, a mudslide had blocked a road; dozens of others were barricaded due to high water.

Duncan said the area had been hit by 6in of rain overnight but no injuries were reported.

“We also want to remind everyone to turn around and don’t drown,” she said. “It might look like a small amount of water, but it’s not. A lot of these places have very high water and people are getting stuck in that water because they’re thinking it’s not that high.”

The National Weather Service said a flash flood warning was in effect on Friday morning for north central Kentucky.