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By Haley Mitchell Godwin

An early morning fire destroyed the Butler County Health Department building on Airport Road in Greenville. The building also housed the Butler County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) offices. No one was in the building at the time, and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, though authorities do not suspect arson. 

“We received a call around 3:30 a.m. It was already fully engulfed at that time,” said Greenville Police Chief Justin Lovvorn. “At this time, we have evaluated the scene and taken statements and found no reason to believe it was intentional.”

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) staff is working to find a temporary space to provide health services nearby. Community members are encouraged to contact the Crenshaw County Health Department or other neighboring locations for services. The ADPH website provides contact information and operating hours for all county health department locations at alabamapublichealth.gov/about/locations.html.

Butler County EMA Director Rosie Till expressed gratitude for the community’s support. 

“I just want to thank everybody that has reached out to me,” Till said. “I’ve had people from the state EMA call, the commissioner showed up to help, and I want to thank them and all of the people that have reached out to say they are praying. I really want to thank the first responders on the scene that did the very best they could and gave it all they had in this heat.”

State Fire Marshal Scott Pilgreen visited the scene earlier today and will lead an investigation in cooperation with local authorities. 

“We are working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and will be conducting an on-site investigation for the next few days,” Lovvorn said. “We will continue to evaluate the scene and evidence over the coming days before we can make a final determination.”