Two downtown buildings damaged by attic fire Thursday afternoon
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
Flames leap from a broken window as firefighters attack a fire in the third floor of the building that houses Plantation Furniture, 112 N. Third St. in Bardstown. Photo by Katie Brooks. Click to enlarge.
Thursday, June 28, 2012, 9:36 p.m. — The buildings that house Plantation Furniture and Mammy’s Kitchen, 112 and 114 North Third St., were damaged by a fire that is believed to have started in the attic of Plantation Furniture building. The fire spread to the attic of Mammy’s Kitchen. The fire was contained to the upper floors, but both buildings suffered smoke and water damage.
The fire was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday with a report of heavy smoke coming from attic vents of the building. Bardstown firefighters arrived and quickly sized up the situation. While firefighters laid 5-inch hose to fire hydrants, other crews entered the buildings to find the location of the fire.
Bardstown Fire Chief Marlin Howard requested mutual aid for the Boston, Northeast Nelson and New Haven/Rolling Fork fire departments for manpower to help fight the fire. Though the fire was clearly in the attic, fire crews had a difficult time accessing the attic due to multiple layers of drywall.
Two ladder trucks were used to help with firefighting efforts. One ladder truck was used to put water into the third-floor windows of the Plantation Furniture building to knock the fire down before crews entered that building; the second ladder truck was used to give crews access to the upper floors over Mammy’s Kitchen.
Nelson County EMS was called to check out a firefighter who was overheated. Witnesses said after he rested and had some oxygen he refused transport to the hospital for further treatment.
Flames billow from underneath the tin roof of the rear of the building that houses Plantation Furniture, 112 N. Third St. This image was taken just minutes after the fire was reported. The fire is believed to have started in an attic before spreading next door to the attic over Mammy’s Kitchen. Photo by Katie Brooks. Click to enlarge.
Power was cut to most of the buildings on the west side of the 100 block of North Third, but was later restored to all buildings except the two involved in the fire at At Mary’s, located adjacent to Mammy’s Kitchen.
After firefighters accessed the attic and knocked the fire down, they checked for further extension with a thermal imaging camera. Crews worked to help salvage items from the damaged areas before they left the scene at 9:45 p.m. A crew of firefighters are staying at the buildings to watch if the fire rekindles overnight.
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