Frank Denzler
For the second time in two months the former Carthage Mill, 212 South Main Street, Carthage, was on fire and flames could be seen coming through the roof of the vacant structure late Saturday night.
According to Carthage firefighter Jason Renz, the fire was reported shortly before 12:30 a.m. Sunday and nine area departments responded to a request for mutual aid.
Responding to the fire were units from Carthage, Knightstown, Morristown, Rushville, volunteer departments from Posey Township, Raleigh, Rushville Township, Manilla, and Charlottesville.
After extinguishing the blaze firefighters were on the scene until 6:30 a.m. Sunday checking for and putting out hot spots.
“I kept hearing sirens for what seemed like hours on end. Finally, about 2:30 a.m. my husband and I went to see what it was all about. We stood a few blocks away and could see flames coming through the roof of the building,” Carthage resident Linda McMahan said.
The former mill is currently in various phases of being demolished and Sunday’s fire comes just seven weeks after a suspicious blaze was reported Sept. 29.
Carthage fire chief Josh Cooley said Monday that the fire is believed to have been started inadvertently by workers cutting scrap metal Saturday afternoon.
“The fire started where the old heater at the mill was located. Workers were cutting away scrap metal in the area of the old heater Saturday and left around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. It appears that a ember may have started the fire that was reported hours later,” Cooley said.
There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
