Structure fire that spread to a wooded area prompted the response of several agencies

Bloomington, Indiana – Multiple agencies responded to reports of a fire. The fire started in a barn located in the 9600 block of West Indiana State Road 45 on Tuesday, and initially, crews from the Monroe Fire Protection District were sent in response to the report.

Shortly after, the Monroe Fire Protection District was joined by the Beech Creek Township Fire Department and the Center-Jackson Fire Territory in the attempts to extinguish the fire.

The Monroe Fire Protection District said in a press release that upon arriving at the scene of the structure fire, crews encountered heavy smoke coming from the barn that was completely engulfed in flames, with part of it already collapsed.

The crews’ response was further hampered by the difficult-to-reach location and slowed water supply resources. The windy conditions and the fact that the barn was loaded with landscaping cloth material additionally contributed to the fire spreading to a 5-acre brush fire, making it even more difficult for firefighters to put out the blaze.

The brush fire was eventually contained, the barn was extinguished, and hot spots were soaked down by firefighters who stayed on the site for several hours.

There were no injuries reported.