Apartment fire prompts evacuation

Monday, July 20, 2020
Firefighters survey the damage of a fire that occurred at 409 E. Walnut St. in Greencastle Saturday evening.
Banner Graphic/Brand Selvia

Several local fire departments were lined up on Walnut Street in Greencastle Saturday evening as firefighters worked to control a fire in an apartment building.

At approximately 8:55 p.m., a box alarm went out for a fire located at 409 E. Walnut St., located not far from this street’s intersection with Locust Street.

The residents were already evacuated out of the house when the first firefighters arrived on the scene. They entered the building to find it filled with smoke with effectively no visibility. However, the fire was confined to the third floor.

The fire was self-ventilated after some windows were opened up. A fan was also used to clear the rest of the building after it was put out.

The fire was considered under control at 9:06 p.m. Afterward, firefighters performed salvage and overhaul. Approximately 250 gallons of water were used to extinguish the blaze.

As of 9:25 p.m., firefighters were still surveying the burned out space in the third floor of the property.

The property is owned by Larry Johnson.

“I can’t say enough about those guys,” Johnson told the Banner Graphic Monday afternoon about the firefighters’ response. “I thought they did a great job getting it put out. They saved the building.”

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the tenants who have been displaced by the fire.

The Greencastle Fire Department, Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department, Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department, Walnut Township Volunteer Fire Department and Bainbridge Fire Department were all at the scene. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Greencastle Police Department and Putnam County EMS were also present.

This part of Walnut Street was opened back up when GFD cleared from the scene at approximately 11:30 p.m.

No injuries have been reported.

GFD Captain Kenny Shepherd told the Banner Graphic Monday afternoon that an investigation into the fire had been conducted. He said it had started in the living room of one of the apartments where an ashtray was in close proximity to an air conditioning unit.

Shepherd said damages had been estimated between $20,000 and $30,000. The living room suffered the most extensive damage, with the main loss being furniture-related.

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