Fire extinguished after car fire spreads in downtown Wilmington parking deck

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Fire Department (WFD) responded to a fire inside a parking deck in downtown Wilmington on Wednesday.

WFD officials said the call came in around 1 p.m. on Jan. 28, after reports of smoke in the parking garage.

WFD confirmed a non-electric Honda Accord caught fire inside the parking deck at Second and Chestnut streets. WFD Chief of Operations Derek Mickler said the fire spread to another vehicle next to the Honda.

The department said the fire was on the fifth level of the parking deck. Crews were able to extinguish it, but did run into some challenges, according to officials.

WFD officials said the scene is now clear. Mickler said it is too early in the investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

“This building has what’s called a fire department connection standpipe system, which they connected to which allows them to get water up on that floor,” said Micker. “There was a failure with it on the 3rd floor maybe due to the cold weather. So, they adapted and overcame and they dropped their old fire hose and were able to go up there and effectively put the car fire out regardless of that situation happening.”

One man, Mike Lambdin, says he was in the parking garage as the fire was happening. He said his truck was parked next to the Honda.

“It was six to eight feet tall flames shooting up, pouring black smoke,” said Lambdin. “It was popping and cracking and blowing up as we were getting near it. So, we immediately stopped and backed up and then I ran in there and moved my truck right as it was continuing to do so.”

Even after moving it, Lambdin said his brand-new truck had some damage.

“The fender is a little melted up, the bumper is melted and the rear taillight is kind of warped and melted,” he said. “I got it eight days ago.”

The New Hanover County Public Library’s Main Branch on Grace Street has reopened after it closed because of the fire, according to the library’s Facebook page.