Cause of downtown Frankfort fire under investigation
FRANKFORT — High winds and poor weather conditions Tuesday hampered Frankfort and Lebanon firefighters' efforts to douse a blaze on West Washington Street in the downtown area, Frankfort Fire Chief John Kirby said.
Flames and smoke poured from the east side of 50 W. Washington St. when firefighters rolled onto the scene about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a news release published Wednesday.
No one was inside the commercial buildings at the time of the fire, and firefighters immediately began to battle the blaze, according to the news release.
Shortly fire crews arrived, all of the city's firefighters were called to the scene to fight the fire, and crews from Michigantown and Rossville covered the rest of Frankfort's district, according to the news release. A short time later, Lebanon Fire Department supplied crews to assist their neighbors to the north.
One firefighter, Greg Miller, who is a 32-year veteran of the Frankfort department, injured himself while fighting the flames on the second floor, Kirby noted in the news release. Other firefighters near Miller rescued him and safely got him out of the building.
"The heroism and professionalism displayed was second to none," Kirby said. "I am proud of the job our firefighters accomplished while facing incredibly difficult odds.
"We also thank our local and regional partners who were there for us during this time of need," he said.
More:What this downtown Frankfort fire looked like from above and on the ground
Miller was treated at IU Health Arnett Hospital in Lafayette and later released, according to the news release.
Firefighters remained on scene overnight to put out any hot spots and secure the scene, Kirby noted.
Fire investigators from Frankfort, the Indiana State Fire Marshal's office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms were on scene Wednesday trying to determine the cause of the blaze.
Kirby thanked all of the police and fire departments who assisted during the fire, as well as the street department, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. He also thanked the local businesses that provided food and supplies to first responders throughout the day.
Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
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