March 21, 2016

Pictures: Denny's And Flying J Burn Down on Southwest Side

Firefighters battle a three-alarm blaze at a southwest Indianapolis Denny's Sunday evening. - IFD/provided photo

Firefighters battle a three-alarm blaze at a southwest Indianapolis Denny's Sunday evening.

IFD/provided photo

INDIANAPOLIS -- It took more than 100 firefighters to control a massive fire Sunday night at a truck stop on the southwest side of Indianapolis. 

A call to 911 first came in around 7:30 p.m., according to Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Rita Reith, in what eventually became a three alarm fire. The fire completely destroyed the Denny's restaurant at 1720 West Thompson Road and damaged the neighboring Flying J gas station. That damaged is estimated at $2 million.

The fire was first reported to Denny's staff by truckers outside. Those employees were unable to extinguish the fire and evacuated the building, where about 40 people got out safely.

No injuries were reported among fire crews or civilians at the busy truck stop near the intersection of I-465 and State Route 37.

Fire crews from Decauter and Wayne townships assisted IFD. Crews had to deal with weak water pressure, but got the flames under control about two hours later, Reith said. Crews were still putting out hotspots in the early hours of Monday morning.

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