Fire hits downtown Brownstown

Firefighers are battling blaze along U.S. 50 on the courthouse square in downtown Brownstown this morning.

The fire, reported at 8:21 a.m. Monday, appears to have started in the rear of the Pizza Stop building, 120 S. Main St., and has spread through the roof to the next buiding, which houses the senior citizens center.

So far, no injuries have been reported.

Brownstown, Driftwood, Grassy Fork and Seymour fire departments are on the scene.

Town Marshal Steve Scarlett reported the fire.

U.S. 50, or Main Street, is closed in town.

Justin Butler, owner of the Pizza Stop, said the last time he and his wife were inside the building was when they closed the business Saturday night. The restaurant is closed Sundays. The building is owned by Dennis and Nancy Sterling.

The senior citizens building is owned by the town of Brownstown.

Members of the Masonic Lodge and volunteers, including trusteys from Jackson County Jail helped remove items from the lodge, located two buildings south of the senior ctizens center.

Representatives of the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office were on the scene Monday morning.

It's the second time a fire has struck multiple buildings on the courthouse square in downtown Brownstown in less than two months.

Two buildings were destroyed and a couple others were damaged when fire erupted during a thunderstorm Aug. 10.

Nancy Sterling, owner of the building at 120 S. Main St., said her mother sold the the building in the 1970s and Nancy Sterling bought in the 1980s. The building had been in her family for decades before her mother sold it. Her grandfather operated an appliance store there in the mid-part of the 20th century.

Town Council President Leroy Warren said he was unsure how long the town has owned the senior citizens building.

Warren said he was unsure where the seniors citizens center would operate in the coming days and weeks. Ir's possible meals could be served through one of the of the local senior citizens centers in the county. The centers are member agencies of Jackson County United Way.