MOUNT AUBURN, Ky. — Burning scrap wood started a blaze that took 40 firefighters from two counties, 53,000 gallons of water and five hours to extinguish.

        Wooden pallets caught fire at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday behind the Napier Pallet Co. on Pleasant Hill Road in northeastern Pendleton County when an intentionally set fire to dispose of old scrap went out of control.

        High winds carried an ember from an open burn to new pallets, stacked 60 feet high along the business's main building.

        Tankers made 35 trips to a hydrant five miles away to supply firefighters with water. Fire departments from as far north as Wilder and as far south as Falmouth assisted at the remote location off the AA Highway.

        “I was very impressed with how quickly firefighters got the fire under control,” said Diane Miles, 46, of Mount Auburn, who watched the blaze from her home. “It looked very bad when I first saw it. The wall of fire was so intense and the flames where so high.”

        Two people were taken to St. Luke Hospital East in Fort Thomas for injuries and one firefighter was treated at the scene for exhaustion. Company owner Robert Napier was treated for burns to his neck and released from the hospital, family members said. He couldn't be reached for comment.

        The identity of the second person transported was not known Wednesday evening, but firefighters said his injuries did not appear life-threatening.

        The fire caused an estimated $25,000 damage, said Eastern Campbell Fire Department Assistant Chief Greg Schultz. A trailer was destroyed, but firefighters saved the building.

        “These people are really, really lucky that their business didn't burn down,” said Mr. Schultz. “We saved the building. They will be in business tomorrow.”

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