Georgia's DeKalb County fire crews fight massive blaze at tow yard

Rosana Hughes and John Spink, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Nov 8, 2024

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ATLANTA — DeKalb County fire crews battled a massive blaze at a tow yard just outside Lithonia early Friday morning.

Officials believe that a hybrid or electric vehicle could be to blame for the fire at South DeKalb Towing & Transport yard on Rogers Lake Road. The fire engulfed up to 75 vehicles, company owner Walter Jackson told reporters at the scene, and several cars were on fire around 5 a.m.

The location also serves as DeKalb police’s south precinct impound lot.

“We had some abandoned cars that caught on fire,” Jackson said, adding that they suspect a faulty battery sparked the blaze.

Jackson said it’s the second time in 24 years of the lot’s operation that a fire broke out due to a battery.

“As we get these new ... electric cars, (we get) these kind of problems,” he said.

Battalion Chief Jovan Carter said there were hybrid and electric vehicles involved, and that crews got the fire under control by putting “copious amounts of water on it.”

Greg Warren works across the street from the lot and said he saw the billowing flames when he arrived Friday.

“I saw stuff flying in the air on fire,” he said. “It was lots of stuff blowing up. It sounded like a small war zone ... some were lower-tone explosions, some sounded like gunshots, real high, popping sounds. (It) kind of spooked me a little bit.”