Mike Wolanin | The Republic Columbus Family Dental Center was destroyed by fire early Tuesday morning.
Police arrested a local man on a preliminary charge of criminal mischief in connection with the early Tuesday morning fire that destroyed a family dental practice near downtown Columbus.
The fire at Columbus Family Dental Center, 901 Third St., was reported to emergency dispatchers at 3:48 a.m.
Dr. Laura Bracken, who owns the building with her husband, Jerry, said the 911 call was made from the Phillips 66/Jack’s Place convenience store across Third Street from her dental practice.
Flames were coming through the roof of the one-story building as first responders arrived, Columbus Fire Department Capt. Mike Wilson said.
Detectives believe that Joshua J. Whitmore, 31, of Columbus set fire to a blanket next to the building, which sparked the blaze. Although Whitmore was arrested and initially charged with criminal mischief, a Level 6 felony, the investigation is still ongoing, Columbus police said.
Whitmore did not attempt to flee the scene before police and firefighters arrived, and immediately took responsibility for the damage, Laura Bracken said.
Columbus Fire Marshal Tony Todd confirmed the fire began on the east side of the building, where the main customer entrance was located. An area of scorched brick was discovered on an exterior wall near a ramp used by patients using wheelchairs or walkers.
A dispatcher woke up the Brackens at their home to inform them of the fire. The dentist said she initially worried something had happened to a family member, and felt relief when she discovered that was not the case.
After firefighters entered the building to attack the flames, interior conditions were quickly deteriorating, Wilson said. Since fire hydrant pressure was fluctuating, a decision was made to call off a defensive fire attack and pull all firefighters out of the building.
With heavy fire gaining ground in the attic space of the building, firefighters set up two master streams from the Columbus Fire and Columbus Township Fire Department aerial trucks. The elevated water streams operated for approximately one hour before the fire was marked under control.
By noon, firefighters were pumping water out of the basement for a better look at damage while also applying water to visible hot spots.
“The building alone has to be worth at least $800,000,” Todd said, citing both the location and rising property values.
While there was no estimate of content damage, the couple had just purchased state-of-the-art dental equipment in December, Laura Bracken said. After talking to their insurer, the Columbus dentist expressed confidence that all equipment will be replaced.
Columbus Family Dental Center sees between 3,000 and 5,000 patients annually, according to Jerry Bracken, who serves as office manager.
“We’ll probably get a (temporary) location while we rebuild here,” Laura Bracken said. “We’ll still be able to take care of our patients.”
The 5,376-square-foot structure was originally built in 1964 as the Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance building, according to online property records. It was sold to the Crystal Flash Petroleum Corp in 1998 before being purchased in 2002 by Edward and Jana Garry.
The Garrys renovated the property before they sold it in 2006 to the Brackens, who used the corporate name of J & L Property Management LLC. The purchase price in 2006 was about $300,000, the Brackens said.
Online property records state the land was valued at $152,163 last year while $163,100 had been invested in improvements in 2003.
Agencies that assisted at the scene include Columbus Township Fire and Rescue, Columbus Police Department, Center Point Energy, Duke Energy and Columbus City Utilities.
