Fire claims Peru furniture store

by Denise Forsberg
Pharos-Tribune staff writer

May 11, 2008 12:50 am

— PERU — Firefigthers from four different fire departments responded Saturday to a fire that engulfed Grant Home Furnishings in downtown Peru.
Smoke poured out of the entire building, as approximately 40 firefighters fought to extinguish the blaze.
The roof of the building was completely consumed and the windows in the second story, where store owners David and Heather Grant live along with their three children and three dogs, were shattered.
The family was not home at the time the fire started and no one was injured.
The 9-1-1 dispatch center in Miami County received several calls shortly after the store had closed at 5 p.m. indicating that the building, located at 160 North Broadway, had signs of smoke from the top of the building, according to Peru Officer Jay Richardson. Firefighters began arriving on scene shortly before 5:30 p.m.
Peru Fire Department Captain Robert Daine said the building was probably a total loss, but would not release additional details until the fire was completely out and the building could be inspected.
Peru Police Chief Bill Raber said that while the cause was unknown, he believed it could have started in the basement. The fire is still under investigation.
The Peru Circus Center Arena, which shares a wall with Grant Home Furnishing, also was damaged as a result of the fire. Raber said that and other neighboring buildings will have to be inspected to determine the full extent of the damage and whether they are safe to reopen.
“Anytime you have a fire in the business district, it’s serious,” he said. “There’s a fear of collapse of the building. Also, there has to be consideration of smoke and water damage, and safety concern of nearby buildings.”
Four engines and two ladder trucks were on scene. Grissom, Pipe Creek and New Waverly fire departments were all on scene. Several other fire departments were also called to stand-by if needed.
It took firefighters until nearly 8 p.m. to knock down the flames and they stayed on scene late into the evening to get any hot spots under control.
Red Cross volunteers brought food and water for firefighters and for the family.
Mitch Figert, executive director for Wabash and Miami County Red Cross, said the furniture building was completely engulfed in flames when he arrived.
“There were flames probably 6 to 8 feet above the building,” he said.
Hundreds of people lined North Broadway as flames and smoke engulfed the building.
Several board members from the Circus City Festival were also among the onlookers and were told by fire officials that the north wall of the building was damaged.
Board member Mark Hall also said that several circus banners had burnt, but they were waiting until it was safe to enter the building to assess the rest of the damage.
“They’ve been there forever,” he said about the banners. “They are irreplaceable.”
The full extent of the damage was not immediately known.

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