The roof of the Sumner County Courthouse caught fire Sunday night. The Gallatin Fire Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are on the scene investigating how it started.
TBI’s involvement is a normal practice when a government building catches fire. It’s expected that roughly 30% of the roof will need to be repaired.
The building cost around $100 million, and the groundbreaking took place last August. It was supposed to open in 2023, but Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown says that date will likely move back.
“Not only is the fire devastating, it’s probably disheartening to all of those who were looking to the positive impact that it was going to make on our community,” Brown said.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. Sumner County Mayor Anthony Holt says there was a big lightning storm, which could’ve been the cause.
Investigators have to peel back the layers of material on the roof to figure out how it started.
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