Yesterday, fire broke our after reported explosion in downtown Orlando. This explosion occurred at an auto salvage company located on East Colonial Drive near Chuluota Road around 12:30 pm. The explosion forced city officials to shut down traffic on East Colonial drive until close to 5:30 pm.
Due to traffic blockage, school buses were delayed in almost all orange county schools. The nearby elementary school was evacuated soon after the explosion. The nearest gas station, a Circle K, was quickly evacuated and all gas lines were turned off.
According to the fire marshal, nearby debris caught flame and the fire soon engulfed the entire building. The Orlando Fire Department fought the fire for almost an hour with many different hoses and chemicals before they got the flames at bay.
The one injured person has been identified as an employee of the auto salvage company. Fire officials say he was taken to the hospital with serious burns. Fortunately, he is in stable condition.
The fire has been said to have started due to experimental cooking fuel. The owner of the building, Aaron Fetcher, is said to be working on a source of alternative energy. It is unclear if the alternative energy being spoke of is the experimental cooking fuel that combusted in the warehouse.