The Columbus Fire Department received the 911 call just after eight o'clock. They arrived at "Deals Custom Woodworking" to find flames shooting in the air. The shop is located on Hamilton road just north of the Medical Center.
Max Moore lives just up the road from Deal's woodworking and was sitting on his porch with friends when the building caught fire.
He quickly called 911.
"We just saw smoke come from the back of the building and the fire just started real big." said Moore.
Battalion Chief Jim Bryant says they received reports of an explosion before engines got on scene. He say this was a hot fire with a lot of unknowns, like thinners and lacquers used for woodworking.
One of the worries of firefighters fighting a fire of this kind is all the chemicals that are on the inside of this building, they tried to attack it from the inside but the chief quickly pulled them out and just used the ladders.
A few minutes later the roof collapsed. No one was injured. But as with all fires this time of year, exhaustion and dehydration are a big worry. The outside temperature combined with the heat of the fire can spell trouble for firemen.
"It's such strenuous work they'll just drop in heat like this, you have to be real careful because they'll keep trying to work and you've got to stop them." said Chief Bryant.
Bryant's men have been here before. This is the second fire at Deals in two months -- the first blaze started in the paint room.
Battalion Chief Bryant also says one firefighter was transported to the hospital with exhaustion.
No one was in the building when the fire started. The cause is still under investigation.
Republished with permission of WTVM.
