Noelle Lagueux-Alvarez: Our hearts sank when we heard the news of the courthouse fire in Wayne County. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, Judge Bennet. Would you please summarize what happened?
Judge Vi Bennett: On the morning of Friday, September 26, 2025, a fire began in the clock tower of the Wayne County Courthouse. The structure was built in 1903, and through the valiant efforts of the Wayne County Fire Department and surrounding counties, the fire was contained to the clock tower. The cause of the fire is thought to be electrical.
NL-A: What was the extent of the damage?
Judge Vi Bennett: Everyone was safely evacuated, but the water and smoke damage to the building required every office in the courthouse to be relocated. Luckily, the Sheriff’s office, located adjacent to the courthouse, contains a courtroom. That, along with the County Commissioners’ meeting room and the jury deliberation room, will be used for trials and hearings.
NL-A: What are the main challenges you have faced and what are the solutions the community has developed?
Judge Vi Bennett: Unfortunately, we were already challenged for space in which to hold court and without the use of the courthouse and its courtroom, that challenge becomes even greater. However, I am confident that the judges, the Clerk and her staff, the Sheriff and his deputies and bailiffs, as well as the citizens of Wayne County will work together to keep the justice system moving. This is just a setback, and you know the saying, “the comeback is greater than the setback.”
NL-A: What is the outlook for the future?
Judge Vi Bennett: We are waiting on the results of the structural engineer to determine the extent of the damage to the clock tower and the roof. A contractor, ServePro, has begun the drying process and will have the building inspected to make sure the building does not contain mold or any other harmful microbes. I am thrilled that ServePro is working carefully to remove the beautiful woodwork inside the building, including the curved bar inside the courtroom, which I believe to be made from heart pine grown in Wayne County. We do have a few pine trees down here. ServePro contractors are being diligent in marking the location of each piece that can be salvaged so that it can be returned to its original location.
