Courthouse mechanical failure causes smoke alarm; disaster averted

Thanks to smoke alarms in the Dubois County Courthouse, a potential disaster was averted early this morning.

According to Jasper Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang, the fire department responded to an alarm at the courthouse at about 2:39 a.m.

Dubois County Sheriff’s Deputies were already on scene and had opened the courthouse when firefighters arrived. They determined there was an issue in the elevator mechanical room in the courthouse basement.

Hochgesang said overheated hydraulic oil had fill the mechanical room with smoke. Thermal imaging indicated a hydraulic line running into a basin of hydraulic oil and the oil was at least 400 degrees fahrenheit.

According to Hochgesang, a mechanical failure in the motor caused the oil to overheat.

“This could have been much worse if we hadn’t got the alarm,” he said.

The smoking oil has permeated the courthouse so anyone going in for early voting will be met with the smell. The public elevator is out of commission today but according to Hochgesang, anyone needing to use an elevator can contact courthouse staff to use a private elevator in the building.

Firefighters did ventilate the room and downstairs with fans and courthouse maintenance staff responded to the alarm to assist and then remained on scene to help ventilate the building.

Two trucks and 14 firefighters were on the scene for an hour.

Jasper Police Department, Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services, Courthouse staff and Dubois County deputies responded.