Fire destroys old Decker school; gym/sawmill saved

DECKER, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Update: Multiple fire departments responded Tuesday night to a structure fire at the former Decker High School in Knox County.

Doug Springfield, Assistant Chief with the Johnson Township Volunteer Fire Department said the call came in at 7:41 p.m.

Springfield said the school building, three stories high with a basement, was a total loss. However, crews were able to stop the fire before it reached the old gym, which currently serves as a sawmill.

Springfield said fire crews were on scene for over six hours. Assisting the Johnson Township Volunteer Fire Department were Vincennes Township, Harrison Township, Palmyra Township, Steen Township, White River Township, Princeton Fire Protection Area in Indiana, and Denison Township and Lawrence & Allison Fire Department in Illinois.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Indiana State Fire Marshall’s office.

Original: The old Decker High School in Decker caught fire Tuesday night. Decker is located in southern Knox County. Multiple departments responded.

According to the Decker High School Alumni Facebook page, the building was built in the early 1900’s. It served as a high school until 1967 and then was an elementary school until 1999. A firefighter on the scene told WTWO the building is now used by a sawmill.

As you can see from the picture and video, the building sustained heavy damage.

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