Fire That Destroyed Tulsa Building Not Suspicious, TFD Says

Captain Stan May with the Tulsa Fire Department said his crews have released the scene as the fire was not caused by any criminal activity.

Saturday, October 10th 2015, 11:17 am

By: News On 6


Fire investigators say the explosions and fire at an unoccupied Tulsa business were not suspicious in nature. Captain Stan May with the Tulsa Fire Department said his crews have released the scene after determining the fire was not caused by any criminal activity.

The fire department spent much of Friday evening putting out the fire and some of the hot spots at the business in the 1100 block of North Utica. Witnesses say they felt the explosion half a mile away.

Fifteen trucks and 50 firefighters converged on the building to battle the fire that started around 6 p.m. Five minutes into fighting the flames, the crews felt another explosion.

10/9/2015 Related Story: Crews Respond To Explosion, Fire Near North Utica

"The first one was loud  - my ears are still ringing from the first one," witness David Bertrand said after the explosion.

Tracy Thomas-Wilson also witnessed the fire.

"It felt like my heart was about to bounce out of my chest cause it was that loud," she said.

Tulsa Fire investigators said they found a ruptured acetylene tank. They said they're certain the tank caused one of the explosions, but aren't sure if it caused the fire.

TFD doesn't know the cause of the second explosion.

Firefighters tell us the business where the fire happened is vacant, and no one was injured.

It's believed a pipe company uses the building for storage.

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