Peru Circus Building Damaged by Fire... additional photos

Posted 5/10/2008 9:21:24 PM by Jim Cole
News from Bill Anderson viewed 2216 times

Saturday, May 10, 2008 - Peru, IN
The Peru, Indiana Fire Dept. and mutual aid assisting fire agencies are credited with saving the Circus Building from total destruction. Some Peru Fire Dept. members had performed in the circus as kids.

Fire Scene Photo By Michelle Spohn

Fire in Adjacent Furniture Store
Damages Peru Circus Building

May 10, 2008, 5:30 PM

A Report from Bill Anderson
Peru Circus, Director of Operations.
We had a fire at the circus building Sat. night. The furniture store next door burned and collapsed. We share a wall with the furniture store. Flame were shooting 100 feet in the air and we had some fire in our building. We were able to look inside tonight and we have quite a bit of damage on our north wall. We will have to do some major repairs to that wall and replace a lot of rope and wiring that was damaged by the intense heat. We were very lucky. Our fire department did a great job of saving the circus building from major damage. The circus building easily could have been completely burned if not for the good work of our firefighters. They saved the circus building. I am sending a couple of pictures. Will have to postpone practice until repairs are made. Going to put a real crunch on our practice schedule. Many from community have already volunteered to help clean-up. We'll get through it. Peru is a good community and we have a strong circus family. Feel free to put on website. Let everyone know we are ok!
Bill

This photo, taken during last years performance, shows the interior north wall at the
Peru Circus building. It is this portion of the building that recieved the most damage
from the fire.
From WISH TV in Indianapolis:
Peru Circus damaged by nearby business fire
Updated: May 10, 2008 09:58 PM EDT
PERU, Ind. (WISH) - Fire investigators were on the scene of a business fire next to the Peru Amateur Circus in Miami County Saturday evening.
Investigators say the fire started inside the Grant Home Furnishings store around 5:30 Saturday night. Firefighters say it started in the store's basement.
The furniture store is connected to the circus. Investigators say the Circus did sustain some damage.
Crews remained on the scene throughout the night to put out hot-spots.
Firefighters from four different agencies helped put out the blaze.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.

This "Live Search" aerial photo shows just how close the furniture store is
to the Peru Circus building. Firefighters are credited with saving the
Circus building from total destruction.
These additional photos are courtesy of
Rob Edwards, Peru Tribune:

Firefighters worked diligently to protect and save the Peru Circus Building.

Peru Circus officials inspect the interior damage to the circus arena. They are determined
to do the July shows as planned.

The burned out frame of the furniture store is leveled. The Circus Building was saved!

Discussing building repairs.
Left, long time Peru Circus associate, Homer Ferguson
Right: Circus Board Member, Alan Day

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News Article

Fire Scene Photo By Michelle Spohn

Fire in Adjacent Furniture StoreDamages Peru Circus Building

A Report from Bill AndersonPeru Circus, Director of Operations.

Bill

From WISH TV in Indianapolis:

This "Live Search" aerial photo shows just how close the furniture store is to the Peru Circus building. Firefighters are credited with saving the Circus building from total destruction.

These additional photos are courtesy ofRob Edwards, Peru Tribune:

Fire in Adjacent Furniture Store
Damages Peru Circus Building

A Report from Bill Anderson
Peru Circus, Director of Operations.

This "Live Search" aerial photo shows just how close the furniture store is
to the Peru Circus building. Firefighters are credited with saving the
Circus building from total destruction.

These additional photos are courtesy of
Rob Edwards, Peru Tribune: