Community thinks small town fires will hurt economy

MONROEVILLE, Ind. (WANE) – A fire in downtown Monroeville damaged two businesses and left four people homeless Tuesday morning.  It marks the second large fire to hit the small town in the past month.

When fire crews arrived on the scene around 6 a.m. they found heavy smoke coming from Monroeville Liquors. There was also smoke coming from some second floor apartments next to the liquor store.

Fire officials said four apartments were evacuated and no one was hurt.

The primary damage is at Monroeville Liquors.  The store is a total loss. The Pizza Gallery next door also had some minor smoke damage.  The restaurant will reopen after some minor repairs.

Arthur Baker owns the buildings damaged by Tuesday morning’s fire.  He has lived in the small town since 1970.  On July 5, he watched another fire rip through the old Dollar Dan's store in Monroeville.

“These are the only two fires that I've seen in all the years I've been here,” Baker said.  “I was standing on the street watching the other one burn and said, ‘Oh my gosh.  What would happen if that was me?’  Then here a couple months later, it is me.

Not only is Baker left without a main income, he thinks the fire will have a larger effect on the Monroeville economy.

“It's going to kill it, especially when you have tenants who frequent the bars and restaurants here in town,” Baker said.  “It takes people like this to make a town work.”

Fire officials said someone broke into the Monroeville pizza shop late Monday night to early Tuesday morning.  Leaders don't think that has anything to do with how the fire started.

There's still no official cause to either of the past two fires in downtown Monroeville.  Investigation into the one Tuesday morning is ongoing.