By Don Steen ~ Staff Writer • reporter@psci.net
The Town of Chrisney was filled with firefighters Tuesday, November 12 as emergency responders rushed to contain a blaze at 19N Main Street. The fire apparently began in the rear of the building, though the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The structure served as an apartment at the time of the incident, but no injuries were reported. Despite the fire’s presence square in the middle of downtown Chrisney’s main stretch, a prompt response from firefighters across the county was sufficient to prevent it from spreading.
Dispatch received the call at around 11:22 a.m., and the first emergency responder was on scene within minutes. The back of the building was fully engulfed, but arriving firefighters were able to suppress the flames before they could jump to nearby structures.
Chrisney Fire Chief Jim Perkins credited the ultimate success in containing the blaze to the prompt response from neighboring departments. Main Street was quickly filled with units from Grandview Fire, Jackson Township Fire, Luce Township Fire, Ohio Township Fire, Carter Fire District, as well as Rockport Police Department, Spencer County Sheriff’s Office and Spencer County Ambulance Service. Law enforcement quickly blocked off the road to accommodate fire trucks, and utility crews cut power to Main Street to allow firefighters to begin work in safety.
Ladder trucks from Ohio Township and Carter Fire District were of particular use, allowing firefighters to access the roof and fight the fire on all fronts. By cutting holes in the roof to ventilate the structure, units were able to prevent heat from building up to the point of additional fires sparking to life.
Neighboring resident Kristal Moon was able to get her pet dogs out of her apartment (located just north of the burning building) during the evacuation, but the cats were uncooperative. While her apartment was briefly filled with smoke, firefighters sent in to investigate found that the smoke had cleared and did not pose a risk to the animals.
After a thorough check for hot spots, crews began to pack up and depart by early afternoon. Perkins could not say whether the burned building was salvageable. The back third was badly burned, and smoke and water damage was significant through the rest.
The road and power lines were back in service shortly after firefighters wrapped things up. Town and Country Hardware, only a couple doors north of the fire, was closed for much of the day, but emerged unscathed.
Chrisney has not always been so fortunate. Just over a century ago, in 1920, the entire west side of Main Street was devastated by a fire raging from the JB Chrisney store to the Ed Maier Building.
Fire Chief Jim Perkins himself was among the scene of the 2002 conflagration, which consumed the Main Street Cafe. Local resident Myran McCoy recalled seeing that fire, and expressed relief that the Chrisney Fire Department and its partners were able to prevent to get things under control so quickly this time.
“I just couldn’t believe Chrisney was on fire. It just kept going faster, faster and faster,” said McCoy of the 2002 fire. “Back then they didn’t have all these firetrucks.”
Featured Image: Chrisney firefighters fought to contain the fire on Main Street that occurred on Tuesday, November 12th
More photos of the Chrisney Fire Dept. fighting to contain the fire that occurred on Tuesday, November 12th
