LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nina Moseley said she was still in shock Tuesday morning, standing among the rubble of what was a roughly 60,000 square-foot warehouse in Smoketown.
“This is just a totally devastating experience, so we’re trying to work through that,” she said.
Inside, said Moseley, were furniture, fixtures and kitchen equipment that Wayside Christian Mission uses for its shelter and Hotel Louisville, to provide housing for people who need it.
“This gave us a place we could store things so that they were readily available and didn’t have to buy things and that saved the mission money,” said Moseley, who serves as chief operating officer for the local nonprofit. “Money that we could then use for feeding people and housing them.”
Next door, the nonprofit Loaves and Fishes, Inc. also had some damage to the building and a vehicle.
“[The vehicle] was used to get furniture, get food and large supplies of food and stuff when we got it,” said executive director Curtis Taylor. “It’s definitely put me in a situation where I can’t do anything right now but wait this out.”
Both organizations said they have insurance, but could still use help.
“We need prayers,” said Moseley. “Funds are always helpful where we can buy the things that we need, storage space in the future, that’s going to be a big need for us … We’re still processing this loss, so we don’t have a definite plan.”
The Louisville Fire Department said a fire crew assessed the building late last year and determined it needed some repairs, which were in progress.
The information on the hazards of the building was shared with dispatchers and the department, and likely saved lives, according to LFD.
LFD said the building began to collapse 21 minutes after the incident commander made the call to pull crews out.
Arson investigators are working to determine what caused the fire and won’t likely have an answer soon, but the fire does not appear to be suspicious, LFD said.