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Dave O'Mara workshop in North Vernon destroyed by Monday night fire

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10:53 AM

Courtesy-Scipio Geneva Fire Rescue

NORTH VERNON, Ind. — The North Vernon Fire Department (NVFD) and North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) responded to a fire that engulfed a Dave O'Mara Contractor workshop on Ertel Lane in North Vernon on Monday night, January 12.

NVFD received a call regarding a structure fire at 585 Ertel Lane in North Vernon at around midnight. Initial responding crews arrived to find a workshop belonging to Dave O’Mara Contractors ablaze, with heavy fire coming from the shop area.

Crews faced heavy flames, and a mutual aid request was made. Firefighters were on the scene for about 1.5 hours before the fire was declared under control, and another 90 minutes to fully extinguish it.

Vernon Twp. VFD, Scipio-Geneva Twp. VFD, Campbell Twp. VFD, Spencer Twp. VFD, Westport Community VFD, Letts Community VFD, North Vernon PD, and Jennings County EMS all assisted at the scene.

There were no injuries during the blaze. NVFD and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted the fire investigation on the morning of January 13 and found the cause of the fire to be accidental in nature.

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