No injuries were reported after a downtown Batesville fire broke out Saturday night as a Halloween trick-or-treating celebration was winding down, according to Main Street Batesville.
The organization said the event, among downtown’s largest trick-or-treating celebrations, drew thousands of families. Fire trucks and emergency crews then converged on Lower Main Street, and evacuations began as the community watched.
Main Street Batesville said the Batesville Fire Department arrived within 3 minutes of the initial call. The group thanked firefighters, emergency responders, law enforcement officers and everyone who stepped up to help protect downtown and the people there.
“Buildings can be repaired. Storefronts can be rebuilt,” Main Street Batesville wrote, adding that the people who make up the community are what truly can’t be replaced.
The group said its thoughts are especially with the people behind Studio Salon and Mr. Wheeler’s. It did not detail the extent of damage to either business.
The Melba Theater and Oliver’s Cardhouse escaped structural damage, according to Main Street Batesville. However, both businesses will stay closed for several days as more assessments are done and work begins to address smoke damage.
Main Street Batesville did not say what caused the downtown Batesville fire. The organization said it will share more updates, along with ways the community can offer support, as assessments continue.
Until then, Main Street Batesville is asking for patience, prayers and kindness as those businesses work through the days ahead. The organization said the response showed the community comes together when it matters most.
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