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Gene Kennedy Reporting A propane tank with nearly two thousand gallons of fuel started on fire early this morning. Wind made it difficult to control the flames, but the fire has since been put out.
The fire started around 3:00 this morning at the Ikea furniture plant that's under construction at 13500 South 175 West in Draper.
Unified Fire Authority says fires at construction sites can happen easily during the winter months. Propane tanks are used to heat concrete, and with a strong wind, tanks can tip over and ignite. We're not certain that happened here but that's one theory investigators are looking at.
The fire ignited around three this morning in a 2,000 gallon propane tank outside the future Ikea building. Flames were reportedly shooting over 25 feet in the air.
We heard reports earlier this morning that fire hydrants ran dry. Turns out that wasn't the case. Fire fighters chose to use hydrants that were further from the building.
Travis Hanburg / Unified Fire Authority: "Anytime you have a tank with propane or any other type of liquid, that causes pressure and that's what makes the flames shoot up so high, that's the main concern with it."
Had there been too much pressure there could have been an explosion. Fire fighters did not want to add pressure from fire hydrants close to the building. Fortunately, crews put this out in about a half hour.
No one hurt and no damage to the building but there's about $30,000 in concrete damage.
