Columbus Fire Department post:
At approximately 11:50 PM on Saturday December 3, 2022, Columbus Firefighters were called to 440 5th St. for a commercial building fire reported by a passerby. Firefighters operated in freezing temperatures for four hours to bring the fire under control. Several additional building collapses occurred after flames spread to 422 5th Street. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries during the incident. Firefighters remain on the scene to extinguish hot spots. Due to fallen debris in the roadway, 5th street will remain closed between Washington St. and Franklin St. for an undetermined period of time.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Columbus Fire Department would like to thank the many agencies and businesses that assisted during the incident. The Bartholomew County Fire Departments provided standby service for the City of Columbus during the incident. Realty One, 436 Washington St., opened their doors to firefighters as a warming station. Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Seymour Fire Department, Hope Fire Department, Columbus City Utilities, Center Point Energy, Duke Energy, Bartholomew County 911 Emergency Operations Dispatch Center, Bartholomew County Emergency Management, City of Columbus Department of Public Works and the Salvation Army