Fire Destroys Shuttered Historic Hospital in Mount Vernon, AL

William Thornton

al.com

(TNS)

Officials say a fire erupted Friday night at the old Searcy Hospital at Mount Vernon Arsenal, one of the state’s most historic sites.

At least 25 agencies responded to the fire at the Mobile County site, which reportedly started around 8:50 p.m.

Citronelle Fire & Rescue said there were no injuries.

When initial crews arrived, they found a large three-story building, the tower arsenal, heavily involved with a roof collapse in progress. Two other buildings were also on fire from spreading embers.

There were no operational hydrants available on the site, so they requested tanker support.

Operations on the main three-story building remained defensive throughout the incident.

At the two additional buildings, fire had extended from the roof into the attic spaces.

In all, 40 fire apparatus and 80 firefighters were involved, with crews on the scene for about six hours.

The Mount Vernon Historical Society released a statement saying structure on the property was fully involved, and additional structures were affected but had only limited damage.

All fire units cleared the scene at approximately 2:30 a.m.

“We are incredibly grateful for the swift and professional response from all fire departments and first responders who worked through the night to contain the fire and protect the surrounding area,” the society said.

“This loss is deeply felt throughout our community. The Searcy property holds a meaningful place in our shared history, and that connection was evident in the many emotional moments witnessed last night.”

The property is the site of Mount Vernon Arsenal, founded in 1828, and more than 30 historic buildings are on the site.

The property housed, at differing times, Geronimo, a Civil War militia, Dr. Walter Reed and African American mental patients when it was the Mount Vernon Asylum for the Colored Insane, later known as Searcy Hospital.

A cause of the fire has not been officially determined.

“We remain committed to the preservation of this historic site and will continue working to protect and share its story for future generations,” the society said.

“We ask for continued thoughts and prayers for everyone affected and respectfully request that the public stay clear of the property at this time.”

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