A fire Friday caused significant damage to the American Legion Byron Cox Post 72 on the city’s southside.
Crawfordsville firefighters were first called at 2:16 p.m. to a report of a structure fire at 101 Walter Remley Drive. Upon arrival crews found light smoke coming from the eaves and then heavy dark smoke on the southside of the one-story building. Flames were visible at one point.
The fire may have originated near the building’s air handlers, which sent fire through the attic.
Fire crews were forced to rip down the ceiling the length of the building to attack the fire.
The building also sustained water and smoke damage throughout. The new Bingo equipment and bar area reportedly were lost as a result of the fire.
Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire and had it marked under control about 35 minutes after the initial call.
With Veterans Day just days away, Legion members were allowed to remove rifles and flags its Honor Guard uses for memorial ceremonies.
Post Commander Bob Carstenson said all legion activities in the near future will be curtailed.
“We will survive and rebuild and be back to supporting the community as quickly as we can,” Carstenson said. “We just ask for everyone’s patience will we work through this.”
He added there were members in the building at the time of the fire, and all were able to escape safely.
“We are blessed for that. No one was injured,” he said. “The damages are material and can be replaced.”
Also on the scene were members of the Crawfordsville Police Department, utility company representatives and the Montgomery County Health Department.
Reporting by Alan Homsher and Tina McGrady.
