Trending Topics

Ga. firefighters face up to 75 vehicles burning at tow yard

DeKalb County Battalion Chief Jovan Carter said there were hybrid and electric vehicles involved

By Rosana Hughes, John Spink
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County fire crews battled a massive blaze at a tow yard just outside Lithonia early Friday morning.

Officials believe that a hybrid or electric vehicle could be to blame for the fire at South DeKalb Towing & Transport yard on Rogers Lake Road . The fire engulfed up to 75 vehicles, company owner Walter Jackson told reporters at the scene, and several cars were on fire around 5 a.m.

The location also serves as DeKalb police’s south precinct impound lot.

“We had some abandoned cars that caught on fire,” Jackson said, adding that they suspect a faulty battery sparked the blaze.

Jackson said it’s the second time in 24 years of the lot’s operation that a fire broke out due to a battery.

“As we get these new ... electric cars, (we get) these kind of problems,” he said.


In the meantime, we must work with partner agencies to develop a workable plan to contain and move the electric car

Battalion Chief Jovan Carter said there were hybrid and electric vehicles involved, and that crews got the fire under control by putting “copious amounts of water on it.”

Greg Warren works across the street from the lot and said he saw the billowing flames when he arrived Friday.

“I saw stuff flying in the air on fire,” he said. “It was lots of stuff blowing up. It sounded like a small war zone ... some were lower-tone explosions, some sounded like gunshots, real high, popping sounds. (It) kind of spooked me a little bit.”

©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Visit at ajc.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Researchers around the world are independently working to solve the challenges firefighters face with electric vehicle fires, so why aren’t we sharing our findings?
Trending
Kansas City Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman, 29, was critically injured when the patient he was transporting stabbed him in the chest
Winston-Salem officials say cutting sick and vacation days could help fund more competitive salaries
Mesa Fire and Medical is preparing to spend $162 million next year as it handles nearly 200 daily calls, with 84% tied to medical emergencies
A hidden spy camera disguised as a phone charger was discovered in the bunkroom of an El Cajon fire station, leaving female EMS personnel feeling violated and unsafe