A fire in a Grand Prairie commercial parking lot damaged 45 cars Sunday afternoon, while firefighters worked in record-breaking heat to keep the flames from reaching nearby buildings, officials said.
The Grand Prairie Fire Department was called around 3:45 p.m. Sunday to the 1200 block of E. Avenue J, where crews found heavy smoke coming from a rear parking lot and dozens of vehicles involved in the fire.
The number of affected vehicles was initially reported at about 30 as firefighters arrived. A later update put the total at 45 damaged cars.
Firefighters focused on containing the flames and preventing them from spreading to nearby warehouses and other buildings in the commercial area. No buildings were involved in the fire, according to officials.
Jeremy Ashcraft, a battalion chief with the Grand Prairie Fire Department, said crews first saw smoke and fire coming from the back of the property. As Engine 4 arrived, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and a large number of vehicles involved.
Two businesses identified in connection with the affected parking area are Kerr Industries and Links Laundry. Kerr Industries says on its website that it provides vehicle detailing services for police departments.
The extreme heat added another challenge for firefighters working at the scene. Additional units were brought in as crews worked to manage the fire and the conditions.
“The main challenge was just the guys getting overworked,” Ashcraft said, adding that firefighters were able to make a quick knockdown.
Officials have not determined where the fire started, and its cause remains under investigation.
The Grand Prairie Fire Department is asking anyone with information about the fire to contact the department.
