Last Updated on July 8, 2016 by cassnetwork
An early morning fire at Closson Lumber began in the basement in the southeast corner of the main showroom building, but the cause is undetermined.
“We were not able to eliminate all reasonable accidental ignition sources in that area,” Logansport fire investigator Jason Miller said Friday night.
Most recently, the buildings in the 800 block of Erie Avenue housed Not-So-Fast-Eddie’s Peculiar Treasures,” which sold antiques and collectibles.
The Logansport Fire Department was dispatched to the former lumber yard at 4:23 a.m. on Friday, July 8 and found the structure fully engulfed.
Crews from Cass Fire District 1, Twelve Mile, Royal Center, Walton, Peru and Monticello assisted and officials estimated between 70 and 75 firefighters helped to battle the blaze. Miller said they were able to save one building on the property.
The fire took out a couple of transformers in front of the building on Erie Avenue. Portions of the city, including many downtown businesses and parts of the south side, lost electricity, phones, cable or internet, though LMU crews were on scene working to restore power to the area even firefighters continued to knock down hot spots.
American Red Cross volunteers from Logansport and Monticello brought water, coffee and food for emergency personnel on scene, which Miller said was greatly appreciated.
He said some other businesses in the area also sustained damage from heat of the fire, including the Keg ‘N Stine, Hernandez Auto and Galbreath Industrial Services.
The fire on Erie Avenue was the second one the Logansport Fire Department was called to on Friday morning.
Crews were called to the 600 block of East Broadway, to a structure behind the former Richardson’s Cleaners building, at 3:50 a.m. Miller said investigators believe that fire was intentionally set.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Logansport Police Lieutenant A.J. Rozzi at (574) 753-4101 or Logansport Fire Investigator Jason Miller at (574) 753-3102.