Harmony Park Fire

VINCENNES, IND. (WTHI) - A suspicious fire at a popular park strikes a sour note in a southern Indiana community.

The Vincennes Fire Department is investigating a blaze that destroyed the kitchen building at Harmony Park.

The dollar damage may not have been large, but the fire is fueling plenty of outrage in the community.

A fire investigator checks for signs of arson in the rubble of the old kitchen building at Harmony Park in Vincennes.

The small building was destroyed in a Tuesday night blaze and it does not appear to have been an accident.

"There seems to be some suspicious activity involved with this fire," said Vincennes Fire Department spokesman Jim Beaman.

The kitchen building was the centerpiece of the events that have happened at the park that has been operated by the Harmony Society for more than 100 years.

The board president was shocked by the destruction.

"It's just something that it's hard to believe its gone now and can't really be replaced," said Board President Sam Thompson.

One of the biggest losses were the old fricassee pots that have served up thousands of meals over the years to visitors.

"Harmony Park might be privately owned but the facility has been used for decades by churches and civic groups for fundraisers, even individuals have used it for weddings and that's part of the reason this destruction is so disappointing.

"When I came up and looked at it for the first time it's just sad that someone would have intentionally set it or how..I can't understand how it could have erupted into a fire like that," said Thompson.

Firefighters are convinced that most likely the fire was intentional.
Now, while the Harmony Society tries to decide whether it will try to re-build the facility, investigators begin looking for the person responsible for leaving it in rubble.

Anyone with information on the fire or who saw anything suspicious in the Washington Street area near the park early Tuesday evening should contact the Vincennes Fire Department at 812-882-2600.