Firefighters battle blaze at Sugar Creek Fabricators

Tina McGrady | [email protected]

Early Saturday morning, a fire broke out and gutted a business north of the city.

Crawfordsville firefighters were dispatched at 4:16 a.m. Saturday to Sugar Creek Fabricators at 503 WCR 300N.

Crawfordsville Fire Chief Scott Busenbark said the initial call, which appeared to be from a driver traveling nearby on Interstate 74, came into the dispatch center as a grass fire. But crews responding to the call quickly discovered the blaze was much larger.

“When we arrived, the fire had already spread throughout the building, half of the roof was destroyed and flames were visible,” Busenbark said.

Because the nearest hydrant was almost a quarter-mile away, near the Indiana Department of Transportation building, firefighters had to truck water to the scene.

CFD used its own tankers, as well as tankers from the Madison Township, Darlington, Waynetown and New Market fire departments, to provide firefighters with enough water to fight the blaze that engulfed the one-story metal building.

Firefighters were also tasked with saving another building that was about 10 feet from the burning structure, as well as protecting two propane tanks that were 20 feet away.

Busenbark said the department also used two fire trucks and a water tower truck to drop water on the blaze. Firefighters remained on the scene until about 9:30 a.m. Firefighters and a water tanker were called in before noon to put out several exposed hot spots.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal also arrived Saturday morning to conduct a preliminary investigation. He is expected to return later this week to conduct further investigation. The cause and origin of the fire have not been determined at this time.

Sugar Creek Fabricators, a metals company, also operated a fireproofing business on the site and leased the property. Busenbark estimated the fire caused $2.5 million in damage to the roughly 19,000-square-foot building. He did not have an estimate of fire damage or how many jobs were lost.

No injuries were reported.