Saturday fire destroys abandoned home

Sunday, January 4, 2015
An abandoned Reelsville home was completely destroyed following a Saturday morning fire, which is still under investigation.

REELSVILLE -- The investigation is ongoing following a Saturday morning fire at an abandoned Reelsville home, which was completely destroyed.

The Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the home at 8010 S. C.R. 450 West at 4:59 a.m. on reports of a structure fire. Upon arrival, responders found the home completely engulfed in flames with a partial roof collapse along with some collapse into the basement.

Thanks to the warmer than normal weather conditions, fire personnel did not have to battle the traditional January cold, rather personnel struggled with the wet ground and mud from several days of rain.

The fire was knocked down using nearly 17,000 gallons of water in a period of two hours. Fire personnel stated that although nobody was living at the home at the time, it was known that two cats lived on the property and were found to be safe.

"The cause of the fire is still undetermined and still under investigation at this time," Fire Investigator John McPherson said. "The house was a total loss with heat damage extending to the garage siding located near the house."

Units cleared the scene at 11:47 p.m. Assisting at the Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department were the Greencastle Fire Department, Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department, Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Operation Life and State Farm.

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