Rockford fire under investigation

VW independent staff

ROCKFORD — The cause of Wednesday’s early morning fire in downtown Rockford is unknown and the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating it.

The fire destroyed DJ’s Auto Repair and Wildfire Bar and Grill in the 100 block of N. Main St. Both buildings were over 100 years old.

The Rockford Fire Department was initially dispatched to the scene in the 100 block of N. Main St. at 1:45 a.m., after a passerby noticed flames coming from the former bar. Ohio City was called for mutual aid five minutes later, followed 10 other fire departments – Mendon, Celina, Chattanooga, Chickasaw, Coldwater, Montezuma, St. Henry, Van Wert, Wilshire and Wren.

Each of the fire departments came to the scene with a tanker, and Rockford Fire Chief Rob Belna said at one point, over 75 firefighters were at the scene and numerous ladder trucks were used to douse the flames.

Belna said the blaze brought under control within a few hours, and he said firefighters drained the village’s water towers while fighting the fire, leading crews to shuttle water from the St. Marys River and a nearby creek.

Rockford firefighters remained at the scene until late Wednesday afternoon.