Body Found After Downtown Crawfordsville Fire

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. -- Recovery workers Tuesday evening found a male's body in the rubble of one of several buildings damaged or destroyed in an early-morning fire in downtown Crawfordsville, authorities said.

The body wasn't immediately identified. Earlier Tuesday, a family said a 24-year-old man who lived in one of the buildings was missing.

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Slideshow: Large Fire Rages In Crawfordsville

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The fire, which started at about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, destroyed apartment units and several businesses on part of a downtown block of the city, which is about 40 miles west of Indianapolis. Mayor John Zumer said the buildings probably had stood since the 1880s or 1890s.

The blaze was first reported at the Silver Dollar Bar, though investigators said they didn't immediately know where the fire began or what started it.

Crawfordsville Fire Chief Todd Barton said up to six people were rescued from the apartment building. He also said one firefighter was taken to the hospital to be treated for exhaustion.

Authorities said a bartender and a Silver Dollar Bar patron first saw smoke behind an alley as the bar closed for the night. They called 911.

"When we went out, we could see … a power transformer hitting up against (the building). That's where all of the flames were," said Robin Baumann, a worker at the bar.

Jack West, the owner of Ben Hur Cab Co., also saw smoke and ran outside the apartment buildings screaming at people to awaken them. The smoke was so thick that residents couldn't find their way out.

"I ran down and ran up the stairs. The smoke and the fire was so bad, I couldn't get up there. So, I just yelled and I heard people up there stumbling around. I said, 'Just follow my voice,'" West said.

The city was filled with smoke and numerous streets were closed after the fire was doused. Fallen bricks lined the road beside the buildings.

Witnesses said they heard several explosions during the fire. Officials thought the explosions might have been caused by ammunition at John's Gun Shop, which was one of the damaged businesses.

Firefighters rescued several people, including Becky Hurt, who said she lost nearly everything. Her home and family's consulting business were destroyed.

"We got out with the clothes on our back. We just move in there a few months ago and had done a total renovation," Hurt said.

Owners of a catering business and an insurance company watched as crews tried to get rid of the hot spots.

An owner of at least one of the buildings, David Gianakis, said the street corner had historic significance for the city and Wabash College students.

"A lot of people, probably 2,000 or 3,000, have gone through that building," Gianakis said. "Where do you start when it goes up in flames?"

The Red Cross was assisting displaced residents.