Woman sent to hospital after Monday apartment fire

A Greencastle woman is currently recovering at Putnam County Hospital after a recent fire which broke out at Country Place Apartments near Woodhaven Drive.

The Greencastle Fire Department was toned out at 3:09 p.m. Monday to respond to the blaze. However, according to Fire Chief John Burgess, the fire was effectively out before GFD arrived at the complex at approximately 3:15.

The woman, who was home at the time, was transported to Putnam County Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Though the fire department is not authorized to provide the information to the Banner Graphic, identification of the injured woman was provided by a family member as Sharmaine Ray.

Ray's daughter Nailah Ray informed the Banner Graphic that her mother is recovering.

"It was her apartment," the younger Ray said Tuesday evening. "I just got off the phone with her. She's doing OK."

Burgess provided that the fire possibly started at the time of the dispatch, but that it was mostly extinguished before 911 was called. According to the fire department's log on the incident, the fire was declared fully contained at 3:17, and GFD cleared the scene at 3:57 p.m. after searching for hot spots.

The Greencastle Fire Department was the only agency called to handle the fire.

The fire was found to have started in the kitchen and then spread through the apartment. The fire did not damage adjoining units, but Burgess estimated damage to be around $25,000.