A fire continues to burn at a Jim Beam warehouse in Kentucky containing 45,000 barrels of bourbon after catching fire Tuesday night, officials say.
The fire started Tuesday around 11:30 at two bourbon aging warehouses at the Jim Beam facility in Woodford County, Kentucky, the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
WATCH:
8+ hours later, the fire continues to burn at this Jim Beam property in Woodford County. Emergency Management officials tell me they expect it to last for several more hours. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/RHqJrQ36xd
— Alex Valverde (@AlexValverdeTV) July 3, 2019
Firefighters were able to contain one of the warehouse fires, but the other was destroyed and continues to burn, according to Fox8 News.
“With the bourbon spirits, there’s just a lot of material to burn,” Drew Chandler, Woodford County Emergency Management Director said.
“You can’t throw enough water on it to knock (the flames) down.”
MASSIVE FIRE ENGULFS JIM BEAM FACILITY IN KENTUCKY:
Two barrel houses at a Jim Beam aging facility went up in flames late Tuesday, spurring a massive response from area emergency and fire crews. https://t.co/JSGSo8YVCI pic.twitter.com/V6rGjMj7tt
— WLWT (@WLWT) July 3, 2019
Beam Suntory, the spirits company based in Chicago that owns Jim Beam, told the Courier Journal that the firm will provide a media statement soon.
Five or six agencies have been on scene, according to the Versailles Police Department.
Approaching the fire is challenging due to its high heat. “(Crews) can’t get close enough,” Chandler said. (RELATED: Why Couldn’t Firefighters Douse The Flames Of Notre Dame Cathedral?)
“I was standing 100 yards away (from the warehouse), and it’s hot,” he added.
No official cause for the blaze has been determined yet, but Fox8 reported that a lightning strike may be involved. Crews are expected to be there for several more hours.
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