Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
GUTHRIE, KY. – A fire Sunday, October 5 destroyed the R.J. Corman Railroad facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. No injuries were reported in the blaze that was reported shortly after 7 p.m. at the building on E. 1st Street.
Guthrie Mayor, Scott Marshall said a few employees were inside the building doing some clean-up work when workers outside the building noticed smoke. The workers came out of the building and 911 was called.
The fire spread quickly and the building was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived at the scene. Mayor Marshall said the building is used as a rehab facility where locomotives are cleaned, painted and refurbished.
Because of the presence of hazardous materials at the facility, a few houses on Kendall Street in Guthrie near the R.J. Corman building had to be evacuated. As of 10 p.m. those families were allowed to return to their homes.
Mayor Marshall thanked the neighboring communities that responded to the fire and assisted the Guthrie Fire Department. Those included the St. Bethlehem, East Montgomery and Cunningham fire services as well as the Montgomery County Rescue Squad.
Personnel from Hemlock Semiconductor and Adams, Tennessee also responded to the fire and Mayor Marshall said at one point there were around 75 firefighters at the scene. Montgomery County and Christian County Emergency Management agencies were on the scene as well.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is under investigation by fire officials.