LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) --The city's top fire investigator has revealed new details about the massive fire at GE's Appliance Park that happened in April.
These new details come on the heels of a scathing report obtained by WHAS on July 28 pointing to several issues involving Building 6.
The report says GE was warned that this type of fire was possible if certain measures were not taken to correct the problems.
Major Ott, the city's top arson investigator, said that GE's insurer had identified fire risks at Building 6 every year, and they had warned that their sprinkler system was inadequate for over a decade.
Thirteen Derby employees said that they did not see any sprinklers in operation during the fire. One person said they saw fluid but it was ineffective.
Witnesses said that when the fire alarms were pulled no alarm sounded.
Major Ott said that four of eight pumps were out of service the day of fire, and three of the four working pumps failed.
Additionally, he said the domestic hydrants at GE's Appliance Park are in poor condition.
"It took almost 45 minutes to get water [from] off the property," Ott said.
Ott said a yearly loss report, determined to be crucial to the investigation, was subpoenaed from GE when they refused to hand it over.
GE has agreed to make some of the recommended changes. Some of those changes were recommended to them in 2001.
LFD absorbed a lot of cost fighting the fire due to equipment damage and excessive manpower. They are working with GE for possible compensation
Fire investigators say the GE PR representative was expected to be here but did not show up.
