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Last updated on Thursday, June 6, 2013
(VINCENNES) - Authorities in Vincennes are looking for answers into a fire that destroyed a business and left a fire fighter injured late Monday night.
Mike Grant of WHTI reports that while officials don't have an exact cause, they are following up on reports that the blaze may not have been an accident.
Sparks popped and flames roared along Washington Ave. in Vincennes. A fire swept through Kohlhouse General Contracting and firefighters say they didn't have a chance at stopping it.
Vincennes Fire Lieutenant, Jono McNeece also appeared to have suffered a heat stroke in fighting the fire and remains at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Vincennes Fire Battalion Chief, Sonny Pinkstaff says 75 percent of the building was on fire when firefighters arrived.
The building is a total loss. Only some steel and block walls survived the hot fire.
The rest is rubble.
While any major fire gets a full investigation, this one may be a little more intense.
Authorities say the original 911 call from neighbors as they described hearing an explosion, then two men yelling followed by two vehicles racing off at a high rate of speed.
State and local fire investigators are trying to find the cause. Right now it is listed as undetermined.
Meanwhile, the building's owner, David Shelton, is making plans to rebuild.
The owner of Kohlhouse General Contracting says that while the fire may slow down his business for a few days he intends on continuing the operation.
Anyone with any knowledge of the fire or who was in the area and saw anything before the blaze broke out is being asked to contact the Vincennes Fire Department at 812-882-2600.
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