Fire Heavily Damages Buildings at Indiana Farmers’ Co-Op

DILLSBORO, Ind. (AP) – A fire heavily damaged buildings at a southeastern Indiana farmers’ co-operative that provides livestock feed, producing flames visible miles away, officials and witnesses said.

Thursday’s fire at the Dillsboro branch of the Laughery Valley Ag Co-Op was reported after 4:30 p.m. ET, as workers were leaving for the day. Fire officials said no injuries were reported and the blaze remains under investigation.

Officials closed U.S. 50’s westbound lanes while fire crews worked for about six hours to douse the fire on the outskirts of Dillsboro, a Dearborn County town about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Indianapolis.

Dillsboro fire Chief Jason Sullivan said he arrived to find flames and heavy smoke rising from the buildings.

“At that point, it was basically just trying to get resources here to help contain this fire,” he told WLWT-TV.

Officials have not determined how much damage the site sustained. Farmers’ co-operatives, also known as agricultural co-operatives, allow farmers pool their resources in certain areas of activity.

Neighbor Clay Cutter said the damage to the co-op’s buildings is devastating because many farmers go there to get animal feed.

“You could see the flames shooting up way above the trees from two miles away. It’s crazy,” he told WISH-TV.