Historic Courthouse Fire in Madison Indiana

The dome and the courthouse's central tower of the 154-year-old Jefferson Country Courthouse appears to be severely damaged in a fire yesterday.

Fire crews from across southern Indiana and northern Kentucky were called to the Ohio River town to battle the blaze that was reported around 6 p.m. Smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air as flames shot out the top of the building.

Contractors had been restoring the dome and had just finished painting it in preparation for Madison's bicentennial, June 6-14. . As of this morning the building is deemed too dangerous to enter until enginners and firefighters can inspect the building.

The courthouse is in designated a National Register Historic District.