A massive fire in Bowling Green, Kentucky, resulted in damage to Republican Sen. Rand Paul’s office on Friday.
Early this morning, the Bowling Green Fire Department released a statement on social media, saying, “We are currently on scene of a large commercial structure fire on State Street. Please stay clear of the area.”
No injuries have been reported from the fire, according to Katie McKee, a public information officer for the Bowling Green Fire Department. McKee noted that emergency responders arrived at the fire on 1025 State St. around 1:45 a.m. before calling for additional fire personnel in response to the major fire.
McKee told reporters that nine units responded to the structure fire, with a total of 31 personnel, Bowling Green Fire Chief Justin Brooks, and two deputy fire chiefs.
“We have just been working on this structure fire ever since,” McKee said Friday morning. McKee confirmed that the building’s roof collapsed as a result of the fire.
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The structure fire, which caused significant damage to a building that houses Paul’s office, commercial store Dezign Tees, and Kerrick-Bachert’s law office, is under investigation by the Bowling Green Fire Department. The Fire Department has not yet confirmed where the fire originated from in the building.
Patrick Webb, from The Leading Report, tweeted a video of firefighters actively battling the fire at the scene. Webb pointed out the suspicious timing of the office fire, writing, “Senator Rand Paul’s office was destroyed this morning in a fire, this comes a day after announcing Fauci had been referred for investigation.”
According to Bowling Green Daily News, multiple tree limbs had to be cut in front of the senator’s office in order for firefighters to reach a hose through the second floor’s windows to fight the blaze.
“We are thankful for the Bowling Green first responders who arrived quickly to the scene to put out the fire, and are continuing to work with authorities to assess damages and to determine a cause,” Paul said in a statement. “We have a very well established emergency management plan and have the ability to continue operations that will not impact our work helping Kentuckians.”
