SCOTTSBURG, Ind. (WDRB) -- Vail's True Value Lumber Company has been a part of the Scottsburg community for more than a century, but on Wednesday night, the entire building went up in flames.Â
Daylight Thursday morning revealed the damage, and it was devastating. Smoke was still rising from the embers left behind at the building. Fire officials said the fire started at 10:30 p.m., and by the time firefighters arrived on the scene, the building had been consumed by flames and dark smoke.
"There was fire already through the roof of the structure," Scottsburg Fire Chief James Richey said. "At that time, we were already behind the 8 ball."
Richey said the top priority for crews was to stop the heavy flames from spreading to the nearby Scottsburg town square. Crews battled the blaze into the early morning hours, fighting to save anything for the business, which started in 1920.
Richey said an official cause hasn't been determined yet, but severe weather Wednesday night is a likely culprit.
"It does seem like it may have played a factor just because it was very gusty winds, and lines were whipping and so on," Richey said. "There were some reports of some arcs. However, it's undetermined."
March 31, 2022 fire damage at Vail Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Fire ripped through the Vail's True Value Lumber Company in Scottsburg, Indiana, on the night of Wednesday, March 30, 2022. These images taken the following day show damage to the century-old business. (Image by: Dalton Godbey)
Vail Lumber Company has been located in the same building since 1920 and has been owned by the same family ever since.
Suzann Barry, the granddaughter of its founder, E.O. Vail, was on the site assessing the damage Thursday morning.
"It's heartbreaking to see it go down," Berry said.
She and the current owners of the store said future plans are uncertain right now. The family is devastated at the loss.
"All I could think of was my mother," Berry said. "She's deceased but she would just be devastated to think 'the store,' as we always called it, is gone."
Fire marshals were on the scene Thursday morning to investigate.
Hardy's Cafe, a nearby restaurant, is closed indefinitely. The restaurant announced on Facebook that it received smoke and water damage from the fire.Â
The Scottsburg community is rallying behind the longtime local business. Ross Theater announced it was donating all proceeds from this weekend's sales to "go to the employees to help with uncertainty they are facing," the theater shared on Facebook.
The family of the lumber company is overwhelmed with gratitude from the community.
"There could've been a lot more damage," Berry said. "Thankful we have some great firefighters."
Related Stories:
Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
