FT. BRANCH, IN (WFIE) -
The Indiana State Fire Marshal has ruled the cause accidental in the fire yesterday at the old Emge meat packing plant.
At the request of the Ft. Branch Fire Department, the state launched an investigation into the now second fire at the former Emge building.
Fire Chief Mike Sokeland said he wanted to make sure an investigation was conducted immediately before any material was disturbed. Friday, he went along with the investigator.
"We went up in the opening. The south east corner is where the fire was," Sokeland said.
Sokeland says he almost expected another fire at the plant because of all of the flammable material and all of the activity at the site.
"You don't know the people that are going in and out, we know the building is not safe, nothing is posted as far as contacts. A lot of questions as to what is going on down there," Sokeland told 14 News.
Fire crews from several departments were at the plant from about 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.
During that time, Chief Sokeland says they never saw the owner of the property, but know a lot of business goes on at the former Emge plant.
Sokeland says there are several people coming and going from the plant at night. He believes they are contracted to scrap metal.
"They don't have no company markings on their vehicles or trucks or things like that, and as we understand, they do this in the evening."
After inspecting the site, the state Fire Marshal's office ruled the fire accidental.
Back in June of 2010, it was one of the metal cutting torches that started the fire that smoldered for a week.
Last year, the EPA spent eight weeks cleaning up nearly half a million dollars of environmental hazards and said they would put a lien on the property.
Chief Sokeland says after all this time, he wonders if anything will ever get done.
"What everybody would like, just a nice clean piece of concrete or dirt there and the rest all gone."
Chief Sokeland says they will receive an official report from the state Fire Marshal's office in two weeks.
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Fire crews from several departments were at the plant from about 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.
