Steinkamp Home Center lumberyard building destroyed in fire

Huntingburg’s new aerial truck saw its first run this morning for a fire at the Steinkamp Home Center lumberyard.

According to Huntingburg Chief Scott Patberg, the department responded with both its aerial ladder trucks to gain access to the fire that was centered on a building in the lumber yard. “That building is laying between a couple other buildings back there,” he said. “We wanted to get water to the roof and make sure the fire didn’t jump between buildings.”

The department received the call for the structure fire at about 5:24 a.m. after employees at the MasterBrand Cabinets plant next door noticed smoke and flames coming from the lumberyard.

When firefighters arrived, they found the west end of the 48-by-32 structure engulfed in flames. According to Patberg, the fire was up in the rafters of the building. The fire’s source appeared to be electrical, said Patberg.

Overhead powerlines were knocked down during the fire and the Huntingburg Electrical Utility responded to assist.

More than 20 volunteer firefighters and four trucks were on scene until about 7:35 a.m. It took about an hour and a half for them to put the fire out.

The building housed a break room for lumberyard employees and was also used to store fork trucks and other equipment as well as some building materials.

Patberg said the building was a total loss and the majority of the damage was concentrated on the west end of the building. He was unsure whether the equipment in the building was a destroyed. “It is under some debris and insurance will have to take a look at it before any determination is made,” he said.

There were no employees at the business when the fire occurred.

Patberg added that the 11th Street Fire Station played an important role in keeping the fire from spreading. “We had a great response time this morning,” he said.

The Huntingburg Police Department, Huntingburg Electrical Utility and Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services assisted.