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9,000 aging barrels crash to ground after collapse at Barton 1792

9,000 aging barrels crash to ground after collapse at Barton 1792
WEBVTT THIS IS WHAT’S LEFT OF BARTON 1792’S WAREHOUSE NUMBER 30, THAT WAS BUILT BACK IN THE 1940'S. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 18,000 BARRELS AGING INSIDE. BUT RIGHT NOW, NO MORE THAN HALF OF THEM, ARE OUT OF PLACE, ON THE GROUND, STACKED ON TOP OF ONE AND OTHER, OR DESTROYED. SAZERAC, BARTON’S PARENT COMPANY IS WORKING TO DETERMING HOW MANY OF THE IMPACTED BARRELS CAN BE RECOVERED. THE WAREHOUSE COLLAPSED SHORTLY AFTER 11:00 FRIDAY MORNING. MILT SPALDING IS WITH NELSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. >> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THE ALCOHOL GOES INTO THE WATER OR THE GROUND IN THE AREA. THEY ARE CHECKING AT THE TIME -- THEY ARE CHECKING AT THIS TIME. ERIC: WE’RE TOLD, NO ONE WAS INSIDE. THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS BEEN ON SITE AND, CREWS ARE DIGGING RETENTION PONDS, HOPING TO CAPTURE LEAKING ALCOHOL. WE’VE LEARNED, THE WAREHOUSE HAS A CONCRETE FOUNDATION, WITH A 12 FOOT DEEP BASEMENT. AND, THE HOPE IS, MOST OF THE LEAKED LIQUOR WENT THERE RATHER THAN INTO THE NEARBY BEACH FORK RIVER. JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, EACH OF THOSE BARRELS HOLDS 53 GALLONS, AND, EACH ONE WEIGHS NEARLY 550 POUNDS, SAZERAC -- POUNDS. SAZERAC DISTILLS SEVERAL LIQUORS. THE BARRELS AFFECTED ARE A VARIETY OF DISTILLED PRODUCTS OF DIFFERENT AGES. AND THAT’S WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT. WE’RE TOLD, IT COULD BE SEVERAL DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS BEFORE ENGINEERS HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CAUSED THAT WAREHOUSE TO COLLAPSE. REGARDLESS, THE DISTILLERY EXPECTS TO BE OPEN FOR NORMAL TOUR HOURS TOMORROW AND NORMAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS MOND
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9,000 aging barrels crash to ground after collapse at Barton 1792
A building collapse at the Barton 1792 distillery in Bardstown sent thousands of barrels of aging liquor crashing to the ground.Bardstown fire officials said the collapse happened at Barton 1792 after 11 a.m. Friday. Nelson County Emergency Management spokesman Milt Spalding said about 9,000 barrels of aging spirits were affected. The building houses about 20,000 barrels of aging liquor. Sazerac officials said the barrels were a variety of distilled products of different ages.Stacks of barrels can be seen in the rubble. Officials spent Friday trying to determine if any alcohol spilled."We want to make sure no alcohol got into the ground or water, streams in that area. They are checking that at this time. Right now, everything looks good," Spalding said.Each barrel holds 53 gallons and weighs about 550 pounds.Spalding did not know the age of the warehouse. He said it's a wooden structure with a concrete foundation and aluminum siding, which is typical for bourbon rackhouses.Crews are trying to secure the rest of the building to prevent further collapse.There are no reports of any injuries.The EPA is at the scene.The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.WLKY reached out to the distillery for comment but has not heard back.

A building collapse at the Barton 1792 distillery in Bardstown sent thousands of barrels of aging liquor crashing to the ground.

Bardstown fire officials said the collapse happened at Barton 1792 after 11 a.m. Friday.

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Nelson County Emergency Management spokesman Milt Spalding said about 9,000 barrels of aging spirits were affected.

The building houses about 20,000 barrels of aging liquor. Sazerac officials said the barrels were a variety of distilled products of different ages.

Stacks of barrels can be seen in the rubble. Officials spent Friday trying to determine if any alcohol spilled.

"We want to make sure no alcohol got into the ground or water, streams in that area. They are checking that at this time. Right now, everything looks good," Spalding said.

WLKY-TV

Each barrel holds 53 gallons and weighs about 550 pounds.

Spalding did not know the age of the warehouse. He said it's a wooden structure with a concrete foundation and aluminum siding, which is typical for bourbon rackhouses.

Crews are trying to secure the rest of the building to prevent further collapse.

There are no reports of any injuries.

The EPA is at the scene.

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.

WLKY reached out to the distillery for comment but has not heard back.