MILTON, FLORIDA, SUFFERED ITS WORST FIRE IN 100 YEARS last night. A fire that is believed to have started in a small building behind the Imogene Theater (they pronounce it EYE-mo-gene) quickly spread to the entire office block in the heart of downtown directly across the street from the courthouse.
News Journal / Bruce Graner photo
At least five businesses have been totally destroyed, but there are hopes that the historic theater which was opened in 1912 has survived. Fire Chief John Reble said this morning that the theater appears to have been saved. There is considerable smoke damage inside and the roof was heavily damaged from the exposure to the fire. ”It has considerable damage, but it seems to be structurally sound,” he said. “We’ll have to take look at it later today.”
WALA-TV Ch. 10 Mobile has this video report with some fire footage:
Firefighters from eight surrounding FD’s assisted in the effort as the fire was first whipped along by a strong wind generated by a weather front moving through. Later, the same storm dropped a heavy rain on the area and assisted in quenching the fire.
The Pensacola News Journal has the latest REPORT along with 5 photo galleries.
STATter911 has more video HERE.
Milton Fire Dept. WEBSITE.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of a devastating fire that burned out the entire commercial district of the little city. Milton is located in the western end of the panhandle, just north of Pensacola.
Update, 4:30 pm:
WPMI-TV Mobile has some more video footage:
