Greenville Still Coping with Devastating Downtown Fire
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Updated: 11:33 PM Oct 16, 2009
Greenville Still Coping with Devastating Downtown Fire
On September eleventh flames erupted in downtown Greenville, destroying a popular restaurant. Now, nearly a month later, residents are still coping with the loss.
Posted: 4:18 PM Oct 6, 2009
Reporter: Gene Birk and Gef Cherwak
Email Address: gene.birk@wbko.com and gef.cherwak@wbko.com
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Greenville Fire Chief Jerry Aders calls it the worst fire in the history of Greenville's uptown business district.

He says every fire department in Muhlenberg County, plus units from Owensboro and Madisonville responded to the call at "Lynn's Cafe" that night. But they may never know how it started.

"Sometimes when you have a fire of that magnitude," says Chief Aders, "and the water we put on that fire, if there's evidence there of anything, sometimes it gets washed away and sometimes fires like this are undetermined."

That's what an ATF agent and an insurance investigator ruled.

Chief Aders also says what's left of the building will be demolished.

Just down the block from where "Lynn's Cafe" once stood is "Billy Steele's Hair Station." He's been working downtown for 33 years and he's concerned about the age of his building since the devastating fire at "Lynn's."

"Since then I've had an electrician come by and look over some of my wiring," says Steele. "I still need to be very cautious in maintaining the safety of our building."

But Billy says Greenville's mayor has told him this tragic fire will not slow down the city's revitalization.

"Sad situation for awhile," Billy says, "but we will be able to go and carry on the regular duties and functions and the plans for the city, as far as restoring or bringing back the looks of downtown Greenville."

And Chief Aders says, "Whatever they put there, will blend in with what's goin' on now, the "Paint the Town" and restructuring the Uptown District."

Steele also says Lynn of "Lynn's Cafe" has moved back to Warren County, and the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee man who owns the lot where the cafe once stood has not yet said what he plans to do.



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