Firemen save American Legion building in downtown fire

No injuries have been reported in a fire in downtown Blytheville on Friday afternoon.

Around 3:15 p.m. Friday, Blytheville firemen responded to the building directly behind the American Legion 33 building at First and Walnut.

The two buildings are separated by a firewall and firemen were able to contain the blaze to the north building, which last hosted Alcoholic Anonymous meetings and a government assistance program before becoming vacant about four years ago, according to Blytheville Fire Chief Mike Carney.

Carney said at this time it is it is unclear how the fire began. At 5 p.m. Friday, firemen were still battling the fire.

There were no active utilities.

“There’s not a reason it should have started accidentally,” Chief Carney said.

He noted the American Legion building does not have fire damage.

“When we got here, there was a heavy fire load on the northwest part of the building,” Chief Carney said. “The guys made entry and were in there probably no more than six, seven, eight minutes and had to retreat from it. It was just unsafe conditions. The roof was heavily involved; we set up the big water and had to reposition when we realized the heavy fire load had gotten into the attic and was coming through the roof. We went into a defensive mode. We considered this north section, it was a loser from the get-go. We knew we had a fire break right here; the fire wall. We were able to access it from that east side to where we were able to do the hand lines and the heavy water and contain this north section and keep it from spreading through the roof line and crossing the fire wall to get to this section on the south side. At this point, we feel like we accomplished that. It doesn’t seem like it crossed over. They are in there right now with ladders in the attic, trying to make sure it hadn’t gotten under that medal roof.”