ELNORA, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – A Christmas Eve fire leaves a factory that has operated since 1952 a total loss.
Tuesday, employees of Basiloid Products in Elnora were working one more shift before celebrating the holidays.
“Everyone was supposed to work until noon so that they could go home and spend time with their family for the holiday,” said Judy Stedman, office manager of Basiloid Products.
Shortly after her shift was over, Stedman says she received a call where she found out that the company’s factory was on fire.
“I got a phone call from my boss and he asked me where I was and what i was doing and I told him I was home and he told me that Basiloid was on fire,” Stedman said.
The Chief of the Elnora Fire Department, which was scene of the blaze, says upon their arrival Basiloid was already engulfed in flames.
“The back of the building had some paint products and thinners and stuff like that and just had a lot of fuel to make the fire go,” said Rob Dove, Elnora Fire Department.
Dove says fire crews did what they could to save the building, but ultimately the fire had already done its damage.
“We called in several units, tankers from other departments in the area, throughout other counties, and we did our best but the building is a total loss,” Dove said.
Stedman says although the loss of the building is tough, she is glad that the fire did not injure any of their nearly 20 employees.
“It’s going to be a loss to a lot of our employees but we will continue and we’re just very thankful that no one was hurt,” Stedman said.
Stedman also says that beginning Thursday, Basiloid will try to find some place else to operate and she feels the company still has an obligation to its customers.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined and under investigation.
