Fire station blaze declared arson

The state fire marshal?s office has determined a blaze which destroyed a Hardin County fire station was arson.

Hardin County’s Bruton Branch District No. 14 fire station housed an engine, a tanker truck, a squad truck and a 1947 antique model show engine that was being restored. All the vehicles were destroyed.

“They’re still investigating, and they have some leads they’re looking at,” Hardin County Fire Chief Melvin Martin said. “It was a total loss.”

The fire appeared to have started in the rear of the building, which is located near the shore of Pickwick Lake about 12 miles south of Savannah.

A resident of a nearby house reported the blaze at 5:10 a.m Monday. The station is staffed by 10 volunteer firefighters, and none were at the station when the fire began.

Martin said the county has a $40,000 insurance policy on the building and that the department would likely rebuild in the same location.