Blaze guts Fillmore home

The Fillmore home of Bret Nonnemaker was heavily damaged by fire Friday afternoon. Fire crews from Floyd Township Fire Department were assisted by representatives from Bainbridge, Danville, Fillmore, Greencastle and Mill Creek Fire Departments.

FILLMORE -- A Fillmore home was heavily damaged by fire Friday afternoon.

Floyd Township Fire Department Assistant Chief Roger Wright said the fire call came in at 1:20 p.m. as a structure fire at 393 Mill Springs, Heritage Lake, Fillmore.

"I was first on the scene," Wright said. "I literally live 10 houses away."

Wright said flames had engulfed a portion of the two-story home, which sat on a full basement and is owned by Bret Nonnemaker.

"The homeowner was at home when the fire started, but no injuries were reported," Wright said.

When he arrived on scene, Wright was alarmed to discover that the heat of the fire was coming near an outside propane tank.

He began dousing the tank with a garden hose and called for tankers.

"This fire was 80 percent knocked down by firefighter Ted Salzman on the pump panel, firefighter-medic Kenny Human and firefighter Kurtis Belcher on the hose line and myself in command," Wright said. "Spot fires were put out and overhaul was completed with the help of Bainbridge, Danville, Fillmore, Greencastle and Mill Creek fire departments. Our thanks to all."

Wright said less than 2,000 gallons of water were used to quell the blaze.

"What we had was a lot of manpower, which was the reason we were able to save so much of the contents of the home," he said.

No damage estimates are available yet, but Wright said in his opinion, "the house is totaled."

"However, we were able to save 80 percent of the contents, which I think is amazing," he said.

The fire has been ruled accidental, Wright said -- the result of a small outside gas leak and an electrical short in an air conditioning unit.