A Jim Beam warehouse caught fire late Tuesday and firefighters struggled to contain the massive blaze, partly because of alcohol in the debris.The warehouse, in Versailles, Kentucky, caught fire around 11:30 p.m. police Lt. Michael Fortney said a security guard called to report the fire.Initial reports suggest the fire resulted from a lightning strike, according to Beam Suntory, the parent company of Jim Beam.Forty firefighters from five counties helped battle the blaze. A second warehouse also caught fire, but that blaze was controlled."We are thankful that no one was injured in this incident, and we are grateful to the courageous firefighters from multiple jurisdictions who brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading," a statement from Beam Suntory officials said.The warehouse where the fire started has collapsed. It held approximately 45,000 barrels of whiskey. Because the product was relatively young, it will not affect the availability of Jim Beam in stores, officials with the company said.Woodford County Emergency Management Chief Drew Chandler said the warehouses are massive -- with about the same area footprint as a football field and six or seven stories high.Chandler said the fire had been way too big and hot to get a fire investigator near it. Even as the sun rose Wednesday, the blaze was still roaring."It's purposefully being allowed to burn for several more hours," Chandler said. "The more it burns, the less distilled spirits are in the debris."That will also help ensure runoff from firefighting efforts doesn't pollute nearby sources of drinking water.In 2018, about 18,000 barrels of bourbon were lost when a warehouse in Bardstown, Kentucky, collapsed during building work. The bourbon runoff killed about 1,000 fish in nearby waterways.

A Jim Beam warehouse caught fire late Tuesday and firefighters struggled to contain the massive blaze, partly because of alcohol in the debris.

The warehouse, in Versailles, Kentucky, caught fire around 11:30 p.m. police Lt. Michael Fortney said a security guard called to report the fire.


Initial reports suggest the fire resulted from a lightning strike, according to Beam Suntory, the parent company of Jim Beam.

Forty firefighters from five counties helped battle the blaze. A second warehouse also caught fire, but that blaze was controlled.

"We are thankful that no one was injured in this incident, and we are grateful to the courageous firefighters from multiple jurisdictions who brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading," a statement from Beam Suntory officials said.

The warehouse where the fire started has collapsed. It held approximately 45,000 barrels of whiskey. Because the product was relatively young, it will not affect the availability of Jim Beam in stores, officials with the company said.

Woodford County Emergency Management Chief Drew Chandler said the warehouses are massive -- with about the same area footprint as a football field and six or seven stories high.

Chandler said the fire had been way too big and hot to get a fire investigator near it. Even as the sun rose Wednesday, the blaze was still roaring.

"It's purposefully being allowed to burn for several more hours," Chandler said. "The more it burns, the less distilled spirits are in the debris."

That will also help ensure runoff from firefighting efforts doesn't pollute nearby sources of drinking water.

In 2018, about 18,000 barrels of bourbon were lost when a warehouse in Bardstown, Kentucky, collapsed during building work. The bourbon runoff killed about 1,000 fish in nearby waterways.