A look inside the Gray’s Hospital building after an early morning fire on Thursday. (Image via the Batesville Fire Department)
A fire inside the historic Gray’s Hospital building on Main Street was quickly extinguished early Thursday morning, according to the Batesville Fire Department.
The department was dispatched to the structure at 3:06 a.m. after receiving reports of a possible fire. The first engine on the scene reported smoke showing from the building, prompting crews to enter for a primary search of the premises.
Firefighters confirmed the building was unoccupied before locating the source of the smoke: several piles of trash that appeared to have been intentionally set on fire. While the flames were successfully doused, only nine personnel responded to the scene—four on-duty firefighters, two off-duty full-time staff, and three volunteers.
According to the department, a building of that size typically requires a minimum staffing of 20 or more firefighters to ensure a safe and effective response.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the trash fire remains under investigation.
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