JACKSON, Mississippi–There’s no word yet on the cause of the blaze that destroyed two buildings and damaged another Thursday evening. One thing is for sure–it’s a long road to rebuilding ahead.
Around 4 o’clock Thursday evening, two women were setting up one of the rental facilities at the Mississippi Ag Museum when they noticed the barnyard animals running about. Then they saw the smoke. Moments later, numerous fire trucks and police were pushing through the thickening smoke and flames to desperately battle the flames that were threatening the Small Town Mississippi exhibit.
The Children’s Barnyard and the maintenance building are leveled. The vet building is damaged. One person sustained injuries trying to release the animals from their stalls, rescuing them from the flames. By 6:30pm the blaze was under control, and the extent of the damage was just starting to glare through.
“We can’t say much at this time,” says Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Prosser, “there’s still the investigation.”
The freeze warning covering most of north and central Mississippi was a concern, but the barnyard animals have already been provided shelter.
“We have a trailer at the zoo this morning with some animals, and more headed to private farms. They’ll be protected not only from the cold, but also the weeks ahead,” says Prosser.
Cleaning up is not going to be an easy process for the museum. All of their own equipment was damaged in the fire, and because museum land and buildings are protected, they can’t touch anything even after the fire marshall report comes in.
“It goes to the Bureau of Buildings to determine how the process will go,” says Prosser.
Prosser says the museum is closed, The Harvest Festival is cancelled, and with the exception of a wedding reception that was already planned for the weekend, people are asked to keep their distance during the investigation.
The community is already asking how to help rebuild the facilities at the Ag Museum. To lend a hand or make a donation, call 601-432-4500.
