By MATT THACKER
A fire that started in the kitchen area of Silver Creek Lanes in Sellersburg Tuesday caused major damage to several businesses in Silver Creek Plaza, off of U.S. 31.
Everyone evacuated the building and no injuries to citizens or firefighters were reported, said Mark Ball, president and CEO or Sellersburg Fire Department and Clark County EMS.
The fire began just before 1 p.m. and was under control at 2:20 p.m., according to fire officials. Crews continued to work into the evening with firefighters still finding hot spots nearly four hours after the fire began.
Billie Basham, a hair stylist at Hair, Etc., said she heard someone say there was a fire, and all four people in the hair salon exited the building.
“There was smoke coming out of the roof. Smoke started coming through the walls on the side of the bowling alley,” she said. “Everyone was able to get out.”
She said it took only about 15 or 20 minutes for the building to become engulfed in flames.
Theresa Ball, spokesperson for Sellersburg Fire and Clark County EMS, said a bulldozer was called to the scene to allow them to the interior of the building to make sure the fire was completely extinguished.
“The fire totally took down the bowling alley and the hair salon. Sid’s Pub was completely destroyed. The south end of the building may have some damage, but it’s still standing,” she said.
Two firefighters were eating lunch at Sid’s Pub when someone ran to tell them the bowling alley was on fire, Mark Ball said. The firefighters used fire extinguishers, but the fire was already going through the roof.
“We had people here practically from the onset. There was just nothing we could do,” Ball said.
About six fire departments responded, and at least five trucks were spraying water at the building. Issues with water supply did not help the effort, Ball said.
“We’ve got major problems,” Ball said as the fire continued to rage after more than an hour.
“The water system was a little weak. I’m not trying to blame anyone because I don’t know that any water company could have handled this,” Ball said.
Hellen Bridges, owner of the building, was upset that one of the nearby fire hydrants was not working. She thought more could have been done to contain the fire.
The bowling alley had been closed and renovations were ongoing, although there was confusion about what the renovation entailed. Mark Ball said there were crews working on lighting fixtures when the fire began, and that the crews left the scene before the fire department arrived.
“They left the scene and no one knows who they are or where they are,” Ball said.
Bridges disputed Ball’s assertion that there were electricians working at the scene. She said they had been placing new tile on the floor but that no electrical work was ongoing.
Bridges said she did not know the cause of the fire but said they had recently turned on the furnace and smelled an odor shortly thereafter.
“We had turned on the furnace (this morning) because it was cold,” Bridges said. “We had used it a couple times before this year and nothing happened.”
Asked later about Bridges statements, Theresa Ball said it was still under investigation.
Bridges said there are five apartments, all occupied, at the building. It appeared the apartments had not suffered much damage.
The building is insured, and Bridges said she will have to review the extent of the damage before deciding whether to rebuild. She said the decision may depend on whether the wooden bowling lanes are salvageable.
Those who work at the building are hoping they do rebuild.
“As of right now, I’m unemployed,” Basham said.
Gerry Hawkins said he received a call from his girlfriend Sherri Hendricks, owner of Sid’s Pub, telling him about the fire.
“It’s going to be really tough,” Hawkins said. “We’re really at the building owner’s mercy whether to rebuild.”
Ball said the building has been there since about 1960, and the age may have contributed to how quickly the fire spread.
“We tried to keep it contained to the bowling alley, but once it gets going it goes from one room to the next,” Ball said. “They didn’t have to follow the same fire codes we have now.”
Ball said there would be extensive damage to at least four businesses. Mazerella's Upper Crust Pizza may have avoided much damage.
U.S. 31 was closed in both directions Tuesday afternoon, and heavy black smoke could be seen for miles.
