Tuesday morning structure fire in Carbon

IVY JACOBS PHOTO - Carbon residents awakened to the sound of sirens because of a fully engulfed structure fire at the corner of Locust and Third streets at 6:50 a.m.

Carbon residents awakened to the sound of sirens because of a fully engulfed structure fire at the corner of Locust and Third streets at 6:50 a.m.

Van Buren Fire Chief Pete Taylor confirmed the fire was at what was once a building used years ago as a Catholic Church, across from the current Town Hall building on the opposite corner.

Taylor said the building was completely engulfed when he arrived on the scene and had fallen in upon itself. The fire was hot, and although firefighters and equipment from Dick Johnson, Jackson, and Belmore responded quickly, they were still putting out hotspots four hours later.

VAN BUREN FIRE DEPARTMENT PHOTO - Carbon residents awakened to the sound of sirens because of a fully engulfed structure fire at the corner of Locust and Third streets at 6:50 a.m.

Barrett Excavating helped open hots spots so the water could dowse the fire.

"Thank God there were no injuries reported at the scene," said Taylor.

But the home just south of the building received heat damage and was scorched by the flames.

The Indiana Fire Marshal's Office has been contacted to help determine the cause of the fire.