Fire destroys local truck stop, causing $4M in damage

Indianapolis fire officials have increased to $4 million the estimated loss from a fast-moving fire that destroyed a truck stop on the city's south side.

Battalion Chief Rita Reith said the fire at the Flying J truck stop and Denny’s restaurant near South Harding Street and Interstate 465 was reported about 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Within 15 minutes, the roof had collapsed on the businesses that served about 2,000 trucks a day. Damages were originally estimated at $2 million.

Reith said it took 100 firefighters more than two hours to bring the fire under control, partly because of the number of hoses drawing water off the same main, reducing pressure.

Witnesses reported the fire began outside the plaza and high winds pushed it into the structure. Reith said Monday the cause remains undetermined.

Workers evacuated about 40 people without injury.