January 7, 2015 Van Buren County Administrative Building fire

At around 10:30 on the evening of January 7, 2015, a fire started in the Van Buren County Administrative Building on Spencer's College Street, which housed the offices of the County Mayor, Elections Administrator, County Trustee, Property Assessor, and the Historical Society.Apel, Kara. "Van Buren County's administrative building destroyed in fire." Online video clip. WSMV.com. WSMV, Nashville, TN, 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015. A fifteen-hour battle by firefighters from six different counties was waged,"Van Buren County offices destroyed." Southernstandard.com. 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015. but the building could not be saved, due in part to temperatures near zero causing widespread problems with equipment, notably ladders and hoses.Apel, Kara. "Van Buren County's administrative building destroyed in fire." Online video clip. WSMV.com. WSMV, Nashville, TN, 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015. 
“It’s a total loss,” Van Buren County 911 director David Chandler said. “We were able to salvage a couple old books and a few other items from the trustee’s office, but that was about it.”"Van Buren County offices destroyed." Southernstandard.com. 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015. Additional documents were preserved from the County Mayor's office.Apel, Kara. "Van Buren County's administrative building destroyed in fire." Online video clip. WSMV.com. WSMV, Nashville, TN, 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015. Though many original documents were lost, County Mayor Greg Wilson told WKRN-TV that digital records were kept on hard drives in separate locations, as a precautionary measure against situations like this one. One firefighter suffered a minor ankle injury while fighting the blaze."Fire destroys administrative building in Van Buren County." WKRN.com. 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015.
There were reports that the fire started in the office of the Elections Administrator.Apel, Kara. "Van Buren County's administrative building destroyed in fire." Online video clip. WSMV.com. WSMV, Nashville, TN, 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015. In addition to the above-mentioned offices, the Spencer office of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which was attached to the Administrative Building, was also destroyed, though concerted effort by troopers saved the equipment stored inside.Claytor, Pamela. "THP office burns in Spencer Fire." Spartalive.com. 8 January 2015. Web. Accessed 8 January 2015.
==Photo gallery==
2015-01-08 Van Buren County Administrative Building 8.jpg|Firefighters battle the blaze
2015-01-08 Van Buren County Administrative Building 1.jpg|Units from six surrounding counties were summoned to help fight the fire
2015-01-08 Van Buren County Administrative Building 2.jpg|Near-zero temperatures greatly hindered the efforts
2015-01-08 Van Buren County Administrative Building 3.jpg|The Spencer office of the Highway Patrol was also destroyed
2015-01-08 Van Buren County Administrative Building 5.jpg|Despite the best efforts of all involved, the building was a total loss
2015-01-08 Van Buren County Administrative Building 6.jpg|The scene the morning after
2015-01-08 Van Buren County Administrative Building 7.jpg|In such frigid temperatures, water froze very quickly
==References==
Category:Spencer
Category:Van Buren County disasters
Category:Van Buren County government
Category:2015