Norman fire, explosion damage storage units

By Jane Glenn Cannon

Published: May 14, 2008

A fire gutted a climate-controlled storage building on S Classen Boulevard in Norman early Wednesday. The manager of Classen Properties Self Storage, 2400 S Classen, said he was mowing out front about 7:55 a.m. when he heard an explosion, then saw a ball of fire inside the building.

Deputy Fire Chief James Bailey said the fire was contained within half an hour, but the contents of the 30 or so storage units were a total loss. The climate-controlled units are in a strip mall which also houses a church and the storage facility's offices. The other office fronts suffered some smoke damage, Bailey said.

Former Mayor Harold Haralson owns the property. He said storage units behind the strip mall and the climate-controlled units were not affected by the fire. No one was injured, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A small private school next door to the strip mall was not threatened, Bailey said. Classes at Blue Eagle Christian Academy, 2404 Classen, had not started for the day when the fire erupted.

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