NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Fire Department battled a massive blaze on Bayou St. John Monday morning.
The three-alarm fire broke out just before 5 a.m. at a warehouse on Toulouse Street near North Jefferson Davis Parkway.
The building houses three businesses – Nola Til You Die, Canal Furniture Liquidators, and a furniture store – as well as a vacant apartment.
NOFD Superintendent Tim McConnell said the former warehouse was stacked full of furniture, which compounded the intensity of the flames.
Firefighters were kept out of the building because of the design of the structure and the likelihood for collapse as the flames raged on, McConnell said.
“The fire is contained to the original structure of origin, and at this point, it really is a matter of trying to make sure that no one gets hurt and trying to make sure that the fire stays contained to this building,” he said.
The building will be a total loss, McConnell said.
Eighteen NOFD units an 65 firefighters responded to the fire.
No injuries have been reported, and there is no word yet on what might have cause the fire.
Massive plumes of smoke could be seen across the city as fire crews worked to contain the blaze.