Jim Spaulding woke up Friday to the sounds of fire trucks blaring outside his apartment.
A massive fire had spread through some of the downtown North Vernon buildings not far from Spaulding’s residence at
40 N. Fifth St.
Nearby flames and heavy smoke forced the 49-year-old and his dog, Chogi, to be evacuated.
Five hours later, the two tried to keep warm at a business up the street. They were waiting to get the OK from fire officials to return home.
The fire, reported at 4:48 a.m., caused two buildings to collapse.
By midmorning, five firefighters had been taken to the hospital for minor injuries, which were caused by the impact of the building walls falling. One was for chest pain, and others were checked out for smoke inhalation and hypothermia, according to Jackson County Emergency Medical Services.
One of the buildings that collapsed housed Hatton’s Carpet and Flooring Store, owned by Larry Hatton. This was the second fire there this month.
“I never thought anything like this would ever happen,” said Samantha Herr, watching the rising smoke from afar. “To see this on TV (two) weeks ago and again, it’s incredible.”
As a lifelong North Vernon resident, the 24-year-old recalls running and biking up and down those streets where the fire blazed.
“It’s kind of sad to see it all being demolished. It’s upsetting and sad, and for some people, it’s embarrassing,” she said.
She rented an apartment
in that area from Hatton last year.
“I’ve lived here my whole life. Seeing it coming from Larry again, I feel sorry for the man, I really do. He has all my sympathy,” she said.
Linda Miller, a North Vernon resident, said she thought the worst when she saw the initial smoke coming from downtown.
“I thought the whole North Vernon was exploding,”
she said.
Miller said her sister lives at the downstairs apartments where the fire spread.
“She was getting ready for work, and they (firefighters) came knocking on her door to tell her the flames were coming downstairs,”
she said.
Miller said her sister, who lives with her boyfriend and two children, was evacuated in time.
Some nearby businesses that weren’t affected by the fire kept their doors open Friday. Some allowed emergency workers and displaced people to come inside and keep warm.
A Perfect Day Cafe, about a block from the fire in downtown North Vernon, had customers filing in to grab a bite to eat, per usual.
Besides some smoke, fire trucks blocking the parking spots and soot being tracked in, owners Judith and Reggi Ross said they weren’t too concerned that the fire would reach them.
The Salvation Army and the Red Cross were on scene offering drinks, food and shelter to emergency personnel and displaced people.
The cause of Friday’s fire is under investigation.