Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Emmet Gymnasium Burns

The Emmet gymnasium burned to the ground early Tuesday morning. According to Jack Ursury, criminal investigator with the Arkansas State Police, the call concerning the fire came in at 1:21 a.m. Tuesday at the Nevada County Sheriff's Office. Crews with the Emmet Volunteer Fire Department, along with Laneburg VFD, the Hope Fire Department, Nevada County Rescue Unit, Prescott Fire Department and Perrytown VFD responded to the blaze. Dr. Gene Ross, Emmet superintendent, held classes Tuesday morning, though all home basketball games have been cancelled for the remainder of the year. Dr. Ross said the gym is insured for $372,000, but had no idea what it will cost to build a new one. Shortly after the fire was reported, a man with severe burns was taken to an area hospital for treatment. However, it is not known whether or not this is a related incident to the gym fire. Small pockets of flames still burned as of 7 Tuesday morning, keeping investigators out of the structure.