LINDEN — Crews from multiple counties responded to a fire Tuesday afternoon that destroyed a lawncare repair garage in northern Montgomery County.
The garage at 608 N. Main St. in Linden is rented by Byron Fugate and serves as a small repair shop. Fugate was not present when the fire began — estimated at about 12:30 p.m. — and the building was otherwise unoccupied, Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Earl Heide said.
“No outside, surrounding buildings were damaged either; it was all contained to that one structure,” Heide said.
Concerns of large amounts of chemical stores were initially reported, prompting responses from emergency management professionals in Crawfordsville and Lafayette.
“There were a few chemicals,” Heide said. “Just to be on the safe side we had emergency management and hazmat crews come in to check the water runoff because we didn’t know what for sure was in there until we got into the process a ways. It was all good. They did the testing and they said it was good to go.”
Due to the shape of the property and the location of nearby hydrants, firefighters battling the blaze were forced to block a portion of the U.S. 231 southbound lane to make room for their tankers. The move caused a temporary closure of the roadway, but help arrived from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police to direct one-lane traffic.
The Crawfordsville Fire Department was also called to assist.
“We immediately called them because we’re volunteer and you don’t have a lot of personnel at first,” Heide said.
The cause of the fire is believed to have stemmed from a woodburning stove. An official cause is pending an investigation by the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Medical responders were also present from Coal Creek Volunteer Fire Department and S.T.A.R. Ambulance service as a precaution.