BEDFORD— The Indiana State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the destructive fire at the Elks Lodge.
Early Friday morning, Firefighters from the Bedford Fire Department responded to a fire at the Elks Lodge at 1102 15th Street. The alarm was raised at 6:21 a.m. after witnesses reported smoke emanating from the building.
Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke billowing from all four corners of the structure. Fire Chief Luke Pinnick reported that heavy flames were located in the basement. Fire crews initially battled the blaze from outside, utilizing exterior windows before entering the basement to extinguish the fire.
“The call came in just as shift change was occurring, allowing both crews to respond quickly,” Chief Pinnick noted. A third crew was also summoned for additional support, bringing 27 firefighters to the scene.
Firefighters remained on site for approximately five hours, successfully containing most of the damage to the basement. However, some heat and smoke damage affected the upper floors of the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with a fire investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office arriving at 11:15 a.m. to assist.
The Elks Lodge, built in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, has been a significant landmark in Bedford since its dedication in 1917. Recently, the building has been at the center of community efforts to preserve its historical value. In a partnership formed by the 1930s Group and Allied Argenta, local organizations aim to revitalize the lodge as part of broader efforts to enhance downtown Bedford.
Adrian Scott Fine, a former Bedford resident involved in the preservation initiative, expressed the community’s commitment to the Elks Lodge’s future. “Our initial, immediate goal was to ensure the Elks Lodge would not be demolished and to transfer it into safe hands. It is too important to the community and its history to be lost,” Fine stated.
Hayden Lockhart of Allied Argenta emphasized the building’s potential for rehabilitation. “The Elks Lodge is a solid building that can be brought back into productive use,” he said at the time of the purchase.
The Elks Lodge, listed on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list in 2015 and August 2023, remains a focal point for revitalization efforts in the historic Courthouse Square District of Bedford, recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
