Fire roars through Piqua car dealership

PIQUA — Flames roared through a building at the Paul Sherry dealership on North County Road 25-A on Wednesday, causing major damage to both the structure and contents.

Piqua firefighters were dispatched to the Paul Sherry Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram site at 8645 N. County Road 25-A around 9:45 p.m. on the report of a fire, with flames showing.

A Piqua police officer arrived quickly and reported that flames were visible coming from the side of the building at the Service Center.

Early reports from witnesses claimed that they had heard “explosions” coming from the area of the fire.

Firefighters from Piqua arrived and immediately requested responses from both Covington and Fletcher.

The heaviest flames seemed to be coming from the service area but the entire building, including the business offices appeared to have sustained either fire or smoke damage. There was also at least one vehicle parked at the service entrance that was also engulfed in flames. It is unclear at this time how many vehicles may have been inside the service center.

Popping sounds could be heard periodically as what were presumed to be car tire burst due to heat and flames.

The fire was brought under control in about an hour, but firefighters did not clear the scene until nearly 1 a.m.

Captain Lee Adams said that there was no evidence of any explosions and attributed the early claim by witnesses to vehicle tires bursting, etc.

Adams said that a fire investigator was already on the scene and would return early Thursday to continue their investigation, along with a state fire marshal. An all-night fire watch is being conducted in case of a rekindle.

The owners of Paul Sherry were able to enter the building and retrieve “import documents,” said Adams.

Adams said that Paul Sherry will be open for business on Thursday morning. Some operations will be moved to other locations around dealership complex, but customers will be able to expect the business to be in operation.

County Road 25-A was shut down at the fire scene approximately two hours as firefighters worked the scene.

No injuries were reported.

Mike Ullery | Daily Call Smoke and flames billow from the service department area and vehicles at the Paul Sherry dealership on North County Road 25-A on Wednesday night.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_031616mju_fire_paulsherry1.jpgMike Ullery | Daily Call Smoke and flames billow from the service department area and vehicles at the Paul Sherry dealership on North County Road 25-A on Wednesday night.

Mike Ullery | Daily Call Firefighters begin to knock down flames at the Paul Sherry dealership on North County Road 25-A in Piqua on Wednesday.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_031616mju_fire_paulsherry2.jpgMike Ullery | Daily Call Firefighters begin to knock down flames at the Paul Sherry dealership on North County Road 25-A in Piqua on Wednesday.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7074.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7079.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7102.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7158.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7201.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7207.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7236.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

A major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.

http://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/03/web1_MU2_7253.jpgA major fire at the Paul Sherry car dealership on North Co. Rd. 25-A on March 16, 2016. Piqua, Fletcher, and Covington fire departments responded to the blaze.