Around 12:30 a.m. on June 25, Spencer Police Officer Scott Garing saw a small fire in the old realty building near Creative Flowers & Gifts on College Street.
Before fire departments arrived on the scene, officials say the fire had spread to Creative Flowers & Gifts. The realty building was fully engulfed when the first units arrived on the scene.
Spencer Fire And Rescue and Piney Fire Department were the first units to arrive. They focused on stopping the spread of the fire to the 911 building and cooling the fire.
Fall Creek Falls Fire Dept, Cedar Grove Fire Dept, and Rocky River Fire also responded as automatic aid.
White County was contacted for mutual aid. Doyle Fire Dept, Sparta Fire Dept, Hickory Valley Fire Department, and Central View Fire Dept responded with trucks and manpower.
Dunlap Fire Department also responded with an engine and manpower.
A large telephone line was burned in two and another was heavily damaged.
Phone service for the area was down. All 911 calls for Van Buren County had to be routed to White County 911 until Ben Lomand Telephone can repair the line. Candy Fork Electric also responded to the scene to inspect lines.
Crews were on scene until 7:00 am working to get the fire extinguished and the hose and equipment loaded.
There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is being investigated and was considered suspicious.