By Marty Trese, KnoxPages.com Editor
BANGS – The abandoned and condemned five-story brick structure at 7520 Johnstown Road that was once a Bible college and an infirmary was nearly destroyed by fire Friday evening. The call was made to the Central Ohio Joint Fire District at 5 p.m. Pictures taken shortly after the fire was reported show the structure totally engulfed in flames.
Photo taken shortly after 5:00 p.m. Friday night – KnoxPages.com photo
After the initial efforts to knock down the flames, smoke continued to fill the air. That will likely continue for the next day or so. As a result anybody with asthma or respiratory issues is recommended to stay inside. If you need to go outside you should wear some sort of respiratory protection such as a face mask. This is recommended by Chief Joe Porter and Health Commissioner Julie Miller. For more information contact the Central Ohio Joint Fire District at 740-625-5646.
Chief Porter says personnel from 8 different fire departments were called to the scene, COJFD, Fredericktown Community Fire District, Mount Vernon Fire Department, Utica Fire Department, Homer Fire Department, Hartford Fire Department, Porter-Kingston out of Delaware County and College Township Fire in Gambier.
Around 8 p.m. Chief Porter said there was fear of collapse and that firefighters were staying away from the building. Personnel from the Knox County Emergency Management Agency, the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Ohio EPA are collaborating on the next course of action. No cause has been given yet for the fire.
Smoke filled the air Friday night from the fire at 7520 Johnstown Road, Bangs – KnoxPages.com photo by Marty Trese
