GILBERT, AZ (CBS5/AP) -
Farnsworth Wholesale Company is relocating and rebuilding after a fire destroyed their warehouse and headquarters and caused $8.1 million in damages in Gilbert.
The company will move into their new corporate headquarters Monday in Mesa, which they purchased at the end of June. After the fire, the company temporarily used another Mesa location for their headquarters.
The Gilbert warehouse will most likely be rebuilt and turned into a plumbing location again, a spokesperson said.
A discarded cigarette is blamed for igniting the huge warehouse fire in Gilbert June 18, fire officials said.
Capt. Mark Justus of the Gilbert Fire Department said it hasn't been determined who tossed out the cigarette responsible for the blaze that sent large columns of black smoke over the area east of Phoenix.
Justus said investigators determined the cause after watching surveillance video and talking with witnesses.
The two-alarm blaze, first reported at 3 p.m., ripped through the plumbing supply warehouse at 27 West Baseline Rd.
Four people were treated by paramedics. They included one person treated on scene for a laceration, one smoke inhalation patient and two firefighter heat-related illnesses.
Fire officials ordered some homeowners in the El Dorado and Kokopelli neighborhoods south and east of the fire to evacuate. Firefighters said they were concerned smoke was carrying potentially hazardous materials. The air quality was being carefully monitored.
Several burning propane tanks at the site exploded, Gilbert fire officials said. An employee with Farnsworth tells CBS 5 those propane tanks were stored in a locker and were used to power their forklifts.
The fire sent a smoke plume towering high into the sky that could be seen for miles in the east Valley.
A man who lives nearby the fire is lucky to be alive after a huge chunk of flaming debris smacked right into his house.
The Union Pacific Railway was also affected. Several railroad ties burned, causing damage to the tracks, fire officials said. The line was shut down for safety precautions as well as the fire damage.
Employees said when the fire first broke out, they tried to attack it with fire extinguishers.
"By the time they got out there, it was already spreading too fast," said Scott Keefer, a warehouse employee. "Within minutes, the entire outside yard was in flames."
Captain Justus said the fire was officially under control later that evening. No injuries were reported in the blaze.
Close to 200 firefighting personnel from Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler and Mesa were on the scene, and an aerial tanker sprayed water on the flames.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News for updates on this developing story.
Copyright 2012 CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Smoke plume seen for miles
Flaming debris smacks into neighbor's house
Fire engulfs warehouse
Firefighters beat back intense flames
