WESTFIELD, Ind. --
A family that spent 30 years growing its food processing equipment business -- a clan that includes a reserve firefighter -- was struggling Wednesday to come to terms with a fire that destroyed the building.
The fire destroyed Carmel Engineering, 17650 Spring Mill Road, early Wednesday. A passer-by reported the fire just after 2:15 a.m., and officials said that when firefighters arrived, the fire was massive.
One of the business's co-owners, Randy Weaver, is a reserve Westfield firefighter. He donned his firefighting gear when he heard about the blaze, but because it involved his own business, he did not participate in extinguishing the flames.
"You've been doing this (firefighting) for 18 years or whatever and help other people, but when it's your business and your livelihood, you just kind of stand back," said Weaver, who owns the business with a relative. "There's not much you can do about it."
The fire started in the business's machine shop and spread to other parts of the business, including an owner's office, Westfield fire Capt. Todd Burtron said.
The business, which designs and manufactures commercial food processing equipment, employs about 20 people.
Randy Weaver, one of the business's co-owners, is a reserve Westfield firefighter. He did not join the firefighters in extinguishing the flames. "When it's your business and your livelihood, you just kind of stand back. There's not much you can do about it," he said.
"This is a pretty significant loss for the owner," Burtron said. "It's a total loss for his operation. The fire did actually get into his office, where his personal data for his entire operation is at.
"We were unable, because of the aggressive nature of the fire, to make entry there to even salvage anything of his business operation."
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Firefighters said they had to transport water to the business with tankers because no fire hydrants were in the area.
Arlene Weaver, Randy Weaver's stepmother, said the area shouldn't have lacked hydrants.
"We've got businesses all around here. (Fire hydrants) should have been put in years ago," she said.
Seven fire departments were called to battle the flames.
Randy Weaver estimated the loss to more than $2.5 million. He said the business would be rebuilt, but probably not at the same location.
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