Blaze damages four apartment units on Wood Street

For a closer look at the blaze, click here.

By MARIBETH WARD

Staff Writer

GREENCASTLE -- Jerry Wagner had a rude awakening around noon today.

A loud boom woke him up. He looked outside and saw sunshine and blue skies, then went to his computer to check the weather.

The next thing he knew, two Greencastle Police Department officers were knocking at his door, telling him to leave his apartment and asking him to move his car.

He looked out and saw his neighbors apartment blazing.

Greencastle Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 12:16 p.m.

Four units at Parkwood Village on Wood Street had smoke and flames rising from the roofline. Two of the four units were severely damaged with the remaining units sustaining smoke and water damage.

Several nearby residents in the 36-unit complex, which is owned by John Wood, heard an explosion.

"The worst part is four families are put out of their homes with this fire. We need to see what we can do to help them. Nobody got caught inside and no one was hurt," said Wood.

The apartments were built sometime in the early-to-mid-1960s. Wood purchased them a few years ago and had put new siding and fencing up on the units last summer.

Greencastle Police Chief Tom Sutherlin confirmed that no one was inside the units and no injuries had occurred.

Streets all around the area were closed off to allow rescue units to get back and forth to the fire.

Cloverdale, Madison Township, Bainbridge, Floyd Township and VanBibber volunteer firemen assisted at the scene. Greencastle was back in service at 4:02 p.m.

For a closer look at the blaze, click here.