Masonic Temple Fire

In total shock this morning with the news of the Masonic Temple burning down in Zanesville. The art community, several businesses and many of my good friends are suffering. Good memories of the Art Collective in Joleen Kinsel‘s room, Little Shop of Health in Michelle Schroder’s store, Elizabeth Juden Christy Poet’s Room/BunkoJess in 226 and this past year in Butterfly’s Studio with Carrie Turner. Carrie, love you and appreciate the wall you gave me in your studio last year. We’ll make a new beginning from this.

 Carolyn Fleegle

ZANESVILLE, Ohio–A historic building in Downtown Zanesville caught fire Thursday night.

The fire broke out just after 11:00 p.m. at the Masonic Temple building on North Fourth Street.

Zanesville Fire Department along with nearly a dozen fire crews from the surrounding area responded to the scene.

” When we got on scene it was already deteriorated enough we had to go to defensive, so we requested aerial devices from area departments. So New Concord has their tower here, Falls has their ladder truck, Newton has their ladder truck, we have our ladder truck., so we have one on each corner of the building . Right now we are just trying to protect exposures.” said Zanesville Fire Chief Jeff Bell.


Chief Bell said due to the Muskingum County Jail being adjacent to the building they moved the inmates to the Courthouse.

Chief Bell said there was a man at a window on the 3rd floor when crews arrived. Fire crews used a ladder truck to rescue the man and two cats. He was treated on the scene.

“It’s just very sad, downtown Zanesville Masonic Temple, its been there for a long time, it’s a historic building. At this point we’re just trying to protect all of the other buildings in the area.

Chief Bell said once they are able to get inside the building they will determine the cause and origin of the fire.

Many buildings in the downtown are without power at this time including the Courthouse and Law Administration Building which will be closed Friday. Chief Bell said they are waiting on Columbia Gas to turn off gas to the building and then will work with a company to safely take the building down.

    Author: BunkoJess

    Jessica Spires was born in Zanesville, Ohio in 1973. Spires is predominantly a painter but also enjoys photography and sculpture. She considers it all practice. Owner of GuitarPartsFactory.com she is a serious business lady by day. When she isn't being a workaholic she spends her down time cooking, gardening, listening to live music and loving her family. Guitar and music symbols are often incorporated with nature themes in her whimsical, colorful folk paintings signed with her nickname: BunkoJess. Spires currently splits her time living and working in Millersport, OH and Nashville, TN.