Three-alarm fire at Lexington lumber company shuts down streets

The 84 Lumber on Palumbo Drive in Lexington burned in a three-alarm fire early Saturday, and Palumbo and Codell Drives remained shut down as of 10 a.m. Saturday.

Fire crews were called to the lumber store at 2345 Palumbo Drive at about 2 a.m., said Lexington Fire Department District Major Derek Roberts.

When they arrived, they “found a well advanced fire” and “immediately upgraded to a second alarm due to the large amount of combustible materials,” Roberts said in a message.

Part of the building had collapsed, which kept firefighters from going in when they arrived.

Firefighters added a third alarm “as the fire continued to consume the structure and its contents,” he wrote.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remained unknown Saturday morning.

The temperature Saturday morning was 1 degree, with a windchill of minus 1, which caused hoses, air compressors and other equipment to freeze up, Roberts said.

He said fire crews took turns using a heated rehab trailer to warm up throughout the incident.

The city’s Streets and Roads Department sent a salt truck to help melt off ice that formed on Palumbo from New Circle Road to Codell Drive, Roberts said.

Palumbo and Codell had reopened Saturday afternoon..

Jeff Byers, general manager of the 84 Lumber on Palumbo, said the fire was thought to have started in the warehouse section of the main building, which also includes a recently remodeled showroom.

“It’s a total loss to us,” he said. “The fire department worked really hard.”

Byers said the company will set up a temporary office and will continue serving local customers without interruption by delivering from other 84 lumberyards.

“We’re going to take care of their need,” he said.

Byers said a demolition crew is scheduled to begin tearing down what’s left of the building next week.

“We’re going to build back better,” he said.