Frank Denzler
A 911 cell phone caller reported a fully engulfed house fire in the 7500 block of East SR 244 east of Richland shortly before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Initial responders found a vacant two-story home fully engulfed in flames and smoke and requested mutual aid from surrounding volunteer departments.
Although the fire was in Rush County, the 911 call was first received by Franklin County and Laurel fire units were dispatched to the scene. A short time later they were joined by units from Anderson Township, Clarksburg, Glenwood and the ladder truck from the Rushville Fire Department.
With no available water source, tanker trucks refilled at the Co-op east of New Salem on U.S. 52 nearly five miles away.
The vacant farm house is owned by Kay and Jim Miller and was used as a storage facility.
“This is the second fire we have had here in a year, fortunately no one was hurt,” Kay Miler said as she awaited her husband’s arrival.
Firefighters were familiar with the location, having fought a structure fire on the property during the fall of 2008 when a barn on the site caught fire.
No cause was given for Wednesday’s fire, although it was learned that although vacant, the home did have electric power still hooked up.
There were no injuries reported as a result of the blaze.
Firefighters remained on the scene for nearly two hours looking for hot spots.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
