UPDATE: Rest of damaged Barton bourbon warehouse collapses; no injuries reported
Barrels of aging bourbon lay among the timbers, tin and debris after the remaining portion of a partly collapsed bourbon warehouse itself collapsed Wednesday afternoon. Fire crews responded though there was no danger of fire and no one was injured. Photo submitted.
NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT
Wednesday, July 4, 2018, 2:41 p.m. (UPDATED 4 p.m.) — The rest of the half-collapsed bourbon warehouse at the 1792 Barton Distillery reportedly collapsed Wednesday afternoon.
Click to enlarge. Photo submitted.
The Bardstown Fire Department and Nelson County Fire Department were both dispatched to the scene at about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday. First-responders reports from the scene confirmed that the other half of the warehouse — and its 10,000 barrels — were on the ground. No one was in the area at the time of the collapse.
Bardstown Fire Chief Billy Mattingly said there was no danger of fire at the scene. Representatives for Nelson County Emergency Management were on the scene to evaluate the collapsed building shortly after it was reported.
Milt Spalding, spokesman for Nelson County Emergency Management, told the media in an impromptu press conference that first-responders are prepared to remain on the scene as long as necessary. Officials from the state’s environmental agency and the fish and wildlife are responding to the scene as well, he said.
Approximately 9,000 barrels were involved when the first half of the building collapsed on Friday, June 22. An additional 9,000 to 10,000 barrels were stored in the half that collapsed today, Spalding said.
A response crew had been at the site of the collapse for the past 10 days, he said. Additional resources were anticipated to respond with the additional collapse, he said.
Reports from the scene were that some additional alcohol was spilled from barrels after the collapse. Spalding said crews had created berms to contain leakage after the first part of the warehouse collapsed June 22.
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