Planes Scorched In Pompano Beach Hangar Fire
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POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – Investigators are looking into what might have caused an early morning fire inside a hangar at Pompano Beach Airpark.
The cause, according to the preliminary investigation, is electrical.
A Cessna and a piper plane sustained severe damage in the fire—along with two motorcycles and a BMW.
"As a pilot, as an aviator, it's always sad to see a plane like this," said Sean Dunne, a pilot.
Investigators said the fire broke out around 9:30 PM Monday at the Pompano Beach Airpark along Northeast 10th Street and 11th Avenue.
Dunne said his friend owns the damaged planes and the property. They are both Irish and Dunne said he never expected such horrible luck on St. Patrick's Day.
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"Irony, it's ironic," he said. "Just picked unlucky today."
The flames were intense, as Assistant Fire Chief Michael Hohl with Pompano Beach Fire Rescue explains, mostly because of the types of materials burning.
"Because of the type of materials that are burning, particularly with aircraft, with magnesium, once it's going—could be difficult to put out and also produces a very hot fire so you have heavy for fire conditions. A lot of heat, a lot of smoke because of petroleum products that are burning so it is every dangerous for the firefighters," said Hohl.
Firefighters were forced to fight the blaze from outside of the structure for safety.
"Had several firefighters that got a little overheated but we were able to rehab them and evaluate them and they were able to go back to full duty," Hohl said.
Fire investigators continue to scour through the wreckage for clues of a cause. Once crews survey the damage the clean-up will begin.