CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- The Clarksville Fire Chief lifted a shelter-in-place advisory for the nearby Town Square Apartments on Lynch Lane, after fire broke out the former Green Tree Four cinemas.
Residents had been asked to remain indoors. Clarksville Fire Chief Tom Upton tells WDRB that there were concerns over possible harmful chemicals in the thick smoke coming from the burning theatre behind the Green Tree Mall. Fire crews were called to the scene around 6 a.m. to fight the blaze.
"A very difficult fire for us," Chief Upton said.
WDRB crews witnessed firefighters using a chainsaw to cut down a door. Although the fire was for the most part under control, thick smoke billowing from the building could have posed a danger to nearby residents.
The closed cinema has been vacant for some time. But it is still sometimes used as Halloween attraction and has a sign that reads: "Psychomania: Theatre of Terror." In fact, we spoke with one of the building's owners who told us that workers were in the building Monday night getting it ready for next fall.  "Buildings been here a long time. Lot of memories," says owner Phil Granger.
Firefighters say the mazes that were built into the structure for the haunted house made it difficult to move around inside.
The theatre was formerly the Translux movie house outside of Green Tree Mall on Lewis & Clark Parkway, and was known simply as the Green Tree 4.
There is no word on a cause of the blaze or the extent of damage. Worker Chad Kern briefly got to peek inside the building and was heartbroken by what he saw: "Everything is just black and charred,"Â
Granger says he's grateful everyone made it out OK. He says he will rebuild, but for now, doesn't know where.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
