NASHVILLE, Tenn. – One person was killed in a fire and explosion at an ammunitions store in South Nashville. A second person was injured.
The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. Monday at Well Done Bullets at 4813 Nolensville Pike.
Engineers were called out to determine if the building is structurally sound enough for fire crews to get back in the building to search for another possible victim.
Fire officials said there was some sort of explosion, and when they arrived on the scene the bottom corner of the building was full of flames.
"At that time they also reported that they did have what sounded like ammunition sounds going off, small explosions," according to Nashville Assistant Fire Chief Charles Shannon.
Witnesses said they knew something was wrong when they heard the explosion.
"It was a lot of flames, a lot of noise, and then when we come (sic) out, the car was on fire, and then we decided to come in because they sell bullets there," said one witness.
It is located in the Hampton Place office complex, which also houses a dental office. The entire building was evacuated. Officials said the bullet shop was not registered.
A.J. Akbari rushed to the scene with is cell phone. He captured a Nashville firefighters battling the flames.
"He went in there like a champ man. He just came in there, unrolled his hose. Put out the car first and then went in for the rest of the building," Akbari explained.
At this point, the names of the victims have not been released. However, investigators believe both were employees of the shop.
Assistant Chief Charles Shannon said Well Done Bullet had rented that office space on Nolensville Pike since February. He also said the city was unaware ammunition was being manufactured at that location.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were called in to investigate the explosion.
(The Associated Press Contributed To This Report.)
