Phoenix firefighters were taking a defensive stance against a massive fire burning in an industrial area just southwest of the Maricopa County Fairgrounds near “The Stack” interchange of Interstate 10 and Interstate 17 on Thursday.
Phoenix fire Capt. Jonathan Jacobs said firefighters were using a “stand back” strategy against the fire.
Jacobs said there were several explosions at the site at 1300 N. 21st Ave. and that the fire was putting out a lot of heat.
“There’s a lot of structure that is burning, but we just don’t know what is stored in the structure,” Jacobs said.
He said the fire involved multiple materials, such as compressed gasses and flammable metals in the immediate area and was extremely dangerous for firefighters.
More than 50 fire units responded to the fire, including ladder trucks that were pouring about 2,000 gallons of water a minute on the flames.
The northbound I-17 on-ramp off westbound I-10 was closed.
Flames and thick black smoke were seen billowing above the northbound exit of I-17 off westbound I-10 starting about 11:45 a.m.
Numerous businesses were evacuated and no injuries had been reported by 12:30 p.m., Jacobs said.
Jeff Olson of All Star Catering said he reported the fire to a dispatcher just before 11:45 a.m.
He said the fire had closed McDowell Road from 21st and 22nd avenues.
Olson witnessed two large explosions as he was talking with CBS 5 News about 12:10 p.m.