06/15/15  Stephens City Hall Burns

 

The Stephens Municipal building was destroyed by fire Thursday that authorities believe started after 10:30 Thursday night. No one was injured in the fire.  Due to the instability of the structure's remaining walls it was necessary to up a detour around the area..that, and there will still hot spots in the building on Friday.

The Stephens Fire Department, Buena Vista Volunteer Fire Department and Elliott Fire Department responded to the fire and had it extinguished in about three hours.  The building, more than a hundred years old house City Hall, the Stephens Water Department and Stephens Police Department.

Authorities report an 18 wheeler carrying woodchips struck a utility pole that supported a transformer across the street from the Day and Night convenience store in downtown Stephens. Ouachita County Sheriff David Norwood is quoted in the Ark Democrat-Gazette as saying the transformer caused a power surge when the truck struck the pole and may have caused the fire.  Mayor Harry Brown said a malfunctioning cooling unit at the police department is another possible cause of the fire, both are being investigated. Meanwhile, the Stephens water department has been moved to the bank building across the street from the municipal building and the police department will be moved to Stephens High School.