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  • New Albany firefighters battle a warehouse fire Tuesday evening at 56 Galt St. in New Albany. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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  • New Albany firefighters try to contain a warehouse fire that broke out Tuesday evening along Galt Street in New Albany. The NAFD responded to the call shortly after 5:30 p.m. No injuries were reported, but the warehouse and its contents were a total loss. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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  • A crowd of people stand on Galt Street and watch as New Albany firefighters battle a warehouse fire Tuesday evening. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

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  • The remains of a warehouse located at 56 Galt St. in New Albany continue to burn Tuesday evening as firefighters try to contain the blaze. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen

    11-17 Galt Fire4.w.jpg

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November 16, 2010

Rainy blaze: More than 100 vintage motorcycles go up in flames

By CHRIS MORRIS Chris.Morris@newsandtribune.com

NEW ALBANY — A warehouse stocked with more than 100 motorcycles went up in flames Tuesday night in New Albany.

Firefighters were called to 56 Galt St. about 5:30 p.m. and were still putting out hot spots late into the evening. There were no injuries but the building was a total loss.

Roger Harper, who has owned the warehouse for seven years, could only watch in a steady drizzle as dozens of New Albany firefighters doused the building with water.

Harper was inside the warehouse when it caught fire. He said a spark from starting a motorcycle caused the fire.

“It just went up too quick,” Harper said when asked if he tried to extinguish the blaze.

Harper said all of the motorcycles in the warehouse were vintage.

“There was nothing newer than 1990,” he said. There were also six vintage cars stored in the building along with parts and tires. He estimated the loss at $100,000.

Harper said he owned the building, which used to house the New Albany Truss Co., and the motorcycles. He estimated the size of the warehouse to be 30,000 square feet, and said he did not have insurance on the building. He said he has always had a passion for restoring motorcycles and cars.

Smoke and flames could be seen for miles when the fire first broke out. Electricity was cut in the area as the fire knocked down several power lines.

Chet Ballew lives across the street from the warehouse and said the flames were “unbelievable.”

“I was talking to my brother on the phone and I heard a popping sound,” Ballew said. “No sooner than I looked out the door it was up in flames.”

Ballew, who has lived at his residence for four years, said Harper was “a nice guy.”

“It’s a shame,” he said. “But thank God no one got hurt.”

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