October 9, 1972

Fire destroys truck, office

       Smith Valley, Ind.- Firemen hampered by a lack of water fought a stubborn fuel fire that destroyed a truck and mobile home office south of Smith Valley today. Capt. Art Barr of the White River Township Fire Department said flames were shooting more than 150 feet into the air from two huge fuel tanks at the site of an asphalt plant alongside Ind. 37. Barr said the plant, operated by McMahan-O’Conner Construction Co. of Rochester, produced asphalt and concrete for widening construction of Ind. 37. It is about 2 miles south of Smith Valley. Fire from the burning tanks, believed to have held more than 5,000 gallons of fuel oil, was noticed at 2 a.m. by State Trooper Russ Miller. It took firemen more than four hours to bring the blaze under control. The plant is about a mile west of Ind. 37 in a gravel pit.

        An asphalt tanker caused some concern when firemen arrived. Lines to the tanker were connected to the fuel tanks. When firemen arrived, they fought their way to the shut-off valves in an effort to avert an explosion. More firemen were summoned from Waverly and Bargersville. An estimated 35 firemen with nine pieces of equipment were at the scene. No injuries were reported. Barr said six fire trucks took water from the West Grove Elementary School at Smith Valley before the blazing fuel tanks were brought under control. Cause of the fire has not been determined. He also said the asphalt and concrete plants were not damaged by the fire. Damage has not been estimated.  (Reprinted with permission of the Indianapolis News)
 

                

               
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