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UPDATED: Pole barn destroyed in Thursday blaze
FILLMORE — A pole barn at a logging business in Jefferson Township is a total loss after a large fire that scrambled multiple fire departments Thursday evening.
At about 6 p.m., a box alarm went out for a large working structure fire at John Collier Logging, which is located on U.S. 40 just west of the State Road 75 junction. Crews found the building with a fire through the roof and a second alarm was dropped at about 6:15 p.m.
Having command of the fireground, the Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department responded with an engine and a tanker, as well as a rescue truck and a brush truck.
The Cloverdale Township and Fillmore volunteer fire departments each responded with an engine and a tanker, while the Mill Creek Fire District came with an engine and two tankers. The Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department and Putnamville Correctional Facility Fire Department responded with a tanker, while the Greencastle Fire Department brought an engine.
Fire crews utilized drop tanks and drafted water to fight the blaze. Tankers in turn shuttled water from a source in Fillmore. Ultimately, about 40,000 gallons of water were used during the operation.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and Putnam County EMS were also at the scene, and the American Red Cross was also notified. Meanwhile, JAMRR Excavating provided an excavator to overhaul debris.
Command of the scene was terminated at about 9:20 p.m. No injuries have been reported.
Jefferson Township Fire Chief Rick Cooper told the Banner Graphic that the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office surveyed the damage Saturday morning. However, no definite cause for the fire has been determined.
Cooper advised that the agency and an insurance investigator would survey the scene either Monday or Tuesday.
While there was no hazardous material inside, hardwood lumber, a payloader and a utility terrain vehicle were lost in the fire. Damages have been estimated at $500,000.