Frank Denzler
“When you have a fire of this nature and there is no gas or electricity to the residence and there were no lightening strikes in the area it arouses suspicion.” — Rush County Sheriff’s Department Detective Jim Owens
FRANK DENZLER
Republican Staff Writer
Rush County Sheriff Department Detective Jim Owens said Tuesday afternoon the fire early Monday morning that destroyed the rural residence owned by Dana and Deb Durbin is still under investigation.
“The fire was extremely hot on the southwest corner of the structure and generally when there is no gas or electricity connected to a structure that generally indicates that an accelerate was used,” Owens said.
The multi-alarm blaze required the service of three volunteer departments: Glenwood, Clarksburg and Anderson Township. Firefighters fought the fire for nearly three hours prior to extinguishing the blaze and checking for hot spots.
Firefighters, Owens and Jim Skaggs from the Homeland Security Fire Marshals Division were on the scene early Monday looking for clues to the origin of the fire.
“The investigation is ongoing at this time. We are looking at a number of things,” Owens said Tuesday.
The fire was reported shortly after 3 a.m. and destroyed the vacant residence located at 8671 South CR 400E.
According to ATVFD Chief Nick White, when firefighters arrived on the scene flames were already through the roof of the two-story farm home and gusting southwesterly winds fanned the blaze.
There were no injuries reported as a result of the efforts to contain and extinguish the fire.
Read more on this story in future editions of the Rushville Republican as information is made available.
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.
