Firefighter injured in massive blaze in DeKalb County

A firefighter was injured Thursday morning as crews battled a massive blaze that affected three DeKalb County businesses.

The fire at a commercial building on New Peachtree Road was so large at one point, smoke could be seen from I-285.

“Our firefighters initiated an interior attack to extinguish the fire,” DeKalb fire Capt. Eric Jackson said, “but the fire was already running above us.”

Firefighters were ordered out the building, which is on the border of Chamblee and Doraville.

“It’s a good thing we did because shortly thereafter, that side of the structure did collapse,” Jackson said.

No one was inside the building at the time of the blaze.

“We have contained the fire to three businesses that were involved,” Jackson said. “It was infringing upon a fourth, but we … pushed a lot of water inside that business in order for that fire not to advance.”

It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze or how the firefighter was injured.

The firefighter was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, Jackson said.