Just after 4:40am Clear Lake Dispatch was alerted to smoke showing in a commercial building behind the Kum and Go on Hwy 18 Clear Lake. Clear Lake Fire Department was dispatched to the 2000 block of 7th Ave N to NTI LTD, a tire and wheel warehouse.

Upon arrival officers noted considerable smoke showing and some flames on the South side of the building. First arriving crews breached a large overhead door and made entry only to have a difficult time finding the seed of the fire. The large size of the building and the amount of tires racked inside, made this fire troublesome. Efforts were made to protect the immediate exposure of a second building attached by a breezeway. Some additional difficulty was encountered when a diesel tank ruptured and ignited. Crews were on scene just short of 9 hours. The business is owned by David Neiman of Clear Lake. A sad note was the loss of Mr Neiman's original 69 Chevelle that was put in storage just days ago in the back of the building.

No injuries reported. The CLFD had 3 engine companies on scene with 18 firefighters and were assisted by one engine company from Ventura with 5 firefighters and Clear Lake EMS, CLPD and Alliant Energy . The amount of financial loss is extensive. This incident is under investigation.