Stewart Automotive & Transmission catches fire and reignites 2 more times
- Nathaniel Smith | Editor-in-Chief
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
On Tuesday, December 9 at 10:45 pm, Salem emergency responders received a dispatch call regarding a structure fire at Stewart Automotive & Transmission. No one was injured in the fire, but the building is severely damaged.
“When we arrived, a large portion of the building was already engulfed,” said Salem Fire Chief Mark Day. “We aren’t sure how it started, but the State Fire Marshal is conducting an investigation… I think they are going back out there sometime next week with some heavy equipment.”
No updates have been released at this time in regard to the Fire Marshal’s investigation. However, Stewart Automotive & Transmission’s insurance company launched their own investigation on Thursday, December 11.
The building has reignited twice since the initial fire on Tuesday evening. The first time being the following day on Wednesday at 2:46 pm, and the second occurred on Friday at 2:05 pm.
A crew from the Salem Wrecker Service was at Stewart Automotive & Transmission helping to load boxes of tools from out of the building on Friday afternoon when they noticed smoke beginning to appear.
“Somebody said, ‘It’s rekindling.’ And sure enough, more and more smoke started coming out,” said Sean Ratts from the Salem Wrecker Service. “What’s been happening is that there’s still heat trapped in there, and it doesn’t take much at all for it to rekindle with the insulation and metal sitting in there and all the wind we’ve had.”
Baden Stewart made a Facebook post on Thursday evening stating that their business phone number is now forwarding to their cell phone, and he is encouraging anyone to text their name and vehicle information to 812-620-8755 if they currently have a car at the business. Here is the full post:
“I have the phone line into the shop forwarding into a cell phone so you can contact us if you have a vehicle with us. It would be greatly appreciated if you could text me your name and vehicle info to that number, 812-620-8755, as I’m trying to compile a list of vehicle info. I’ll be in contact and we’ll get a game plan as we can. We greatly appreciate the patience as we navigate this mess. It would also be appreciated if calls can be limited to those needing info on vehicles currently with us. All outreach and support is appreciated more than anyone knows. Thank you all again.”
Emergency responders that were dispatched to the initial Tuesday night fire included the Salem Fire Department, Campbellsburg Volunteer Fire Department, Pierce-Polk Volunteer Fire Department, and the Salem Police Department.
Below are more photos from the incident:
