GARY, IND. – On Thursday evening, the City of Gary Fire Department responded to a major commercial fire that broke out at the Family Dollar located in the 1400 block of Massachusetts Avenue in Downtown Gary. Firefighters arrived quickly to battle the intense blaze, which prompted Fire Chief Larry Tillman to call in additional resources from neighboring fire departments in Merrillville, Portage, Griffith, and Lake Ridge to assist in controlling the fire.
By 9 PM, an explosion inside the building caused significant damage, compromising the structure’s integrity. This led to the immediate declaration of the building as unsafe, and an emergency partial demolition was ordered to protect both public safety officers and nearby residences. ARMOR D2, a demolition contractor, was swiftly brought in to handle the demolition of the unstable exterior walls that posed a danger to adjacent properties and the street.
By midnight, ARMOR D2 had assessed the scene and began demolishing the compromised parts of the building in coordination with the Gary Fire Department, ensuring all hazardous conditions were addressed. The demolition and firefighting efforts extended into the early morning hours, and by 5 AM on Friday, October 18th, the fire was under control, and mutual aid teams were released. The Gary Fire Department remained on-site to monitor for any remaining hot spots.
Chief Tillman praised the rapid and efficient work of the firefighters, stating, “I am incredibly proud of our firefighters and their exceptional performance during this incident. Their effective execution ensured the safety of our community, with no injuries reported.” Tillman also commended the seamless coordination with mutual aid partners, which helped prevent the fire from spreading further.
Mayor Eddie Melton echoed these sentiments, recognizing the importance of collaboration in handling such a significant emergency. “This incident highlights the importance of collaboration in times of crisis. We will continue to support the investigation and recovery efforts to ensure the well-being of our residents and businesses,” Melton said.
In the aftermath of the fire, public safety officials remain on-site to enforce safety protocols and oversee proper debris disposal. NIPSCO crews are working to secure the gas and electrical infrastructure in the area, while the Gary Fire Department continues to collaborate with Homeland Security in investigating the cause of the fire.
The swift and coordinated response of the Gary Fire Department and mutual aid teams not only ensured public safety but also prevented further damage to surrounding properties, exemplifying the strength and preparedness of the city’s emergency response network.–News Desk