Posted on 07/03/2019 7:03:30 AM PDT by Red Badger
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two barrel warehouses at a Jim Beam aging facility burned for hours overnight in Kentucky.
WKYT reports the facility caught fire at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. One warehouse caught fire, which then spread to a second warehouse.
Roughly 45,000 barrels of bourbon were in one of the burning warehouses.
Officials said it’s possible the fire was caused by a lightning strike.
VERSAILLES, Ky. (WKYT) - Multiple crews are on the scene of a major fire at a bourbon warehouse facility. Massive fire at a Jim Beam warehouse facility in Woodford County
Woodford County Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler tells WKYT two barrel warehouses at a Jim Beam aging facility caught fire around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The facility is on McCracken Pike, near the Franklin County line.
Chandler says one warehouse initially caught fire with flames spreading to the second structure.
Crews were able to put out the flames in the second warehouse. Flames were still visible in the first warehouse five hours after the fire started.
Chandler says approximately 45,000 barrels of bourbon were in the warehouse that was still burning. He speculated crews could be on scene until late Wednesday night.
Multiple agencies are working to put the fire out. Bluegrass Emergency Response Team out of Lexington is bringing foam to the scene.
Chandler also said it's possible the fire was caused by a lightning strike, but that has not been confirmed.
A local business is bringing sand to control runoff into Glenns Creek.
McCracken Pike is shut down while crews actively fight the fire.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Wow. These images from the fire at the Jim Beam aging facility are unbelievable. Emergency management officials estimate 45,000 barrels of bourbon were in the rickhouse. Read more here from @WKYT: https://t.co/jYq66lZxjK pic.twitter.com/JQ9hTewYcj — Garrett Wymer (@GarrettWKYT) July 3, 2019
“Someone burned down my he shed!”
Where was Makers Mark, Jack Daniels, Pappy Van Winkle at the time???
Oh, the humanity!!!!!!!!..................
A terrible tragedy.
With Johhny Walker hunting Wild Turkey and Old Crows................
Wow. I drive by both the Booker Noe and the main site (tours there) on my commute, depending on what route I take. I didn’t know this one even existed. This area is becoming inundated with these aging facilities.
I can see the ads now..........Jim Beam aged in smoke and fire..........
Imagine what that must smell like.
Ireland lowered their flag to half mast.
OMG!!! This is a tragedy of epic proportions!!
Imagine if it was pot instead of Bourbon.
Adds a new meaning to “smoked” bourbon.
No sprinklers ? Perhaps in the new warehouse.
that’s exactly the image that flashed into my mind!
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