Attic Fire Causes Damage

03/05/08

On Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 at 3:09 AM, the Smith Township Fire Department responded to the report of a fire coming from the roof of a residential structure at 426 North Line Street, in Churubusco.

Churubusco Police Officers Chad Fulkerson and Tony Helfrich were first to arrive and reported a large two story residential structure with fire and smoke coming from the roof of the structure and that occupants were still in the structure. Chief Roger Bennett then arrived on-scene and assisted the Churubusco Police Officers in getting the residents out of the structure. After helping remove the residences from the structure Chief Bennett entered the structure and found no fire or smoke in either the first or second story of the structure.

First arriving fire crews deployed fire attack hand-lines to the second floor of the structure and found fire conditions only in the attic of the structure. Additional fire crews arrived on-scene and assisted with water supply and laddering the roof for ventilation and extinguishment of fire on the roof.

It took firefighters 16 minutes to bring the fire under control. Fire damage was confined to the attic and roof; however there was some smoke and water damage on the second floor of the structure.

Mutual aid was called from the LaOtto Fire Department to provided additional manpower and equipment. Thorncreek Township Fire Department was put on stand-by and Whitley County EMS Medic 21 was also on-scene, no injuries were reported.

Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire was due to the chimney of a wood burning stove that ignited wood from the roof in the attic space.