COLUMBUS – Firefighters were called to 440 5th Street in downtown Columbus at 11:50 p.m. Saturday after a bystander called 911 to report a commercial building was on fire.
Firefighters operated in freezing temperatures for four hours to bring the fire under control. Several additional buildings collapsed after flames spread to 422 5th Street.
Three firefighters sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Firefighters remained on the scene to extinguish hot spots until the early hours on Sunday.
Due to fallen debris in the roadway, 5th Street will remain closed between Washington and Franklin streets for an undetermined period of time.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Columbus Fire Department would like to thank the many agencies and businesses that assisted during the incident.
The Bartholomew County Fire Department provided standby service for the City of Columbus during the incident.
Realty One, 436 Washington St., opened its doors to firefighters as a warming station.
Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Seymour Fire Department, Hope Fire Department, Columbus City Utilities, Center Point Energy, Duke Energy, Bartholomew County 911 Emergency Operations Dispatch Center, Bartholomew County Emergency Management, City of Columbus Department of Public Works and the Salvation Army.
