WASHINGTON — Local emergency crews and state arson investigators are searching for answers after three separate structure fires broke out in close succession across the city during the overnight hours of Wednesday into Thursday.
The trio of blazes, which required mutual aid from neighboring departments, forced firefighters to jump directly from one emergency scene to the next. While no injuries have been reported, the proximity and timing of the incidents have prompted a formal investigation by the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office.
This sudden rash of overnight blazes comes on the heels of a separate, highly suspicious string of fires that occurred in Washington late last month. In that previous May incident, three separate fires—two involving mobile homes and one at a house under construction—were intentionally set on the city’s west side within a single hour, prompting the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to offer a $5,000 reward for information. Local officials have not yet stated whether this newest round of overnight fires is connected to the previous suspected arsons.
According to emergency dispatch logs, the first call for help came in shortly before 11:35 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Oak Grove Road and Field Street.
First responders arrived to find a residential home completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters launched an aggressive attack and successfully knocked down the bulk of the fire. However, the scene remained volatile; crews were forced to return to the Oak Grove Road property hours later after receiving reports that the structure had rekindled.
While fire crews were actively working to secure that initial scene, a second residential structure fire was dispatched just after midnight on McCormick Avenue, between Northwest 18th and 19th streets. Emergency responders rushed to the location and battled the flames for roughly an hour before successfully bringing the scene under control.
The emergency sequence culminated at approximately 1:10 a.m. Thursday, when a third structure fire was reported at or near 1406 West Van Trees Street.
Neighbors living near the Van Trees Street incident reported hearing a small explosion immediately before looking outside and seeing the structure engulfed in flames.
The intensity of the final fire on West Van Trees Street forced local command staff to request additional manpower and mutual aid apparatus from the Vincennes Fire Department to help extinguish the flames and provide city coverage.
Because the three fires broke out back-to-back within a span of less than two hours, the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office was immediately notified and called to the scene. State investigators spent the early morning hours documenting the wreckage, interviewing witnesses, and mapping out the points of origin at all three locations.
The official causes of the fires remain under active investigation. Local police and fire officials are urging anyone who may have noticed suspicious individuals, unusual vehicular traffic, or home security camera footage near Oak Grove Road, McCormick Avenue, or Van Trees Street between 11:00 p.m. Wednesday and 2:00 a.m. Thursday to come forward.
Information can be shared directly with the Washington Fire Department or reported anonymously to the state authorities.
