(UNDATED) – Firefighters from several volunteer fire departments responded to a number of fires in Lawrence County on Tuesday afternoon.
The fires are still under investigation. The Fire Marshal is not releasing any information at this time.
However, investigators are asking anyone with information about the fires to contact the Indiana State Arson Hotline at 1-800-382-4628.
In Springville, shortly before 1 p.m., firefighters from Perry and Marshall Townships and Oolitic were called to the block of State Road 54 for a shed fire.
According to Max Peters, a firefighter for the Perry Township VFD, the fire started when a resident attempted to start a lawn mower using ether.
The lawnmower and contents of the building caught fire.
The person tried to put out the blaze. However, it quickly spread to other flammable products stored in the shed.
According to Peters, two buildings were destroyed in this fire.
Around 2:30 p.m. a series of fires was reported to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department
Greer Lane fire
The first was a house fire located at 85 Greer Lane, then a mobile home fire at 142 Patton Hill Road, and two wildland fires- one near the Highview Baptist Church on Patton Hill Road, and second wildland fire on the Purdue Farm property.
Patton Hill Road fire
While battling the Greer Lane Fire one firefighter was injured and transported to IU Health Hospital in Bedford.
Several fire departments in Lawrence County, Crane, Greene County Fire Departments, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Forestry Service all assisted in the various fires.
Several agencies assisted the fire departments including the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Indiana Fire Marshal’s Office, IU Health Ambulance Service, TOPES, Crane Fire Department, Monroe Fire, and Greene County Fire Departments.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
