Cause ‘undetermined’ in March 12 RV factory fire

May 21-- May 21--ELKHART -- Fire officials say the cause of a blaze that destroyed a Forest River manufacturing plant on March 12 is "undetermined."

A release issued by Elkhart Fire Department inspector Aaron Gerber on Monday said officials have finished their investigation and "no other indications were found at the scene that would aid in determining the fire cause."

Due to a lack of information, Gerber said, the fire's cause has been deemed "undetermined," though the cause could be updated should more information become available.

The city fire department worked with a city police investigator, the Indiana State Fire Marshal's Office and private fire investigators hired by the insurance company.

No injuries were reported in the fire at Plant 59, 411 C.R. 15, on the city's east side. The recreational vehicle Vibe was manufactured at the plant.

About half a dozen employees were in the plant. Usually about 60 employees work there, employees told firefighters, but work for the day was winding down. Employees said they heard a small explosion near the front of the building, "like something heavy fell." They started to investigate but fled the building when they heard a second, louder explosion.

Three weeks after the fire, an investigator confirmed to ABC57 there had been 15 to 20 layoffs at the plant earlier in the day.

Employees said the plant that burned was the primary manufacturing facility while a second plant to the north, which was not damaged in the fire, was a finishing plant.

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