DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A large fire engulfing roughly more than 50 vehicles at a towing impound lot in DeKalb County was brought under control early Friday morning, officials said.
It happened at the South DeKalb Towing lot on Rogers Lake Road in the Lithonia area. Fire officials early Friday did not have an exact cause, but both DeKalb Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jovan Carter and the lot's owner, Walter Jackson, described the fire being possibly exacerbated by electric vehicle batteries on site.
For breaking live coverage and news conferences you can download 11Alive+, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.
Battalion Chief Carter said that with the electric vehicles involved, it took a little more time and a "lot of water" to get the fire under control.
The lot was described as functioning in part as a police impound lot, and Jackson thanked the DeKalb County Police Department and DeKalb Fire Rescue for their quick response and getting the fire under control.
"We had probably about anywhere from 50-75 old abandoned cars that caught on fire," Jackson said. "They came out, saved the day, saved the business and everything, did a great job."
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is still under investigation, Battalion Chief Carter said.
Jackson said his business has been in operation in south DeKalb for 24 years and that this is the second time they've had a fire issue with electric vehicle battires.
There were no injuries reported.