February 17, 1972

Family escapes farmhouse blaze in Whiteland

       Flames swept through a two-story farmhouse southwest of New Whiteland early today, but a family of five asleep when the pre-dawn blaze broke out escaped serious injury. The fire occurred at the home of the Eddie Reid family, Whiteland rural route one. The farmhouse is located on County Road 75 West, south of Whiteland Road. Johnson County Deputy Sheriff Jim Cisco said the Reid couple’s eight year old son Dean was awakened by fire about 4:45 a.m. when he discovered fire in an upstairs window. The boy alerted his father, and Reid and his wife Cheryl, the eight year old son, and two other children, Dennis and Dana, fled to safety. Investigators said the blaze may have started from an electric heater in an upstairs bedroom. Whiteland Rural firemen were first summoned to the scene of the blaze. New Whiteland volunteer firemen and firemen from Bargersville and White River Township departments were also called. Perry Township sent a water tanker. Volunteers, sheriff’s authorities and neighbors carried furniture from the downstairs of the home, but all of the home furnishings and clothing upstairs were lost in the blaze. No estimate of damage was available from firemen. Owner of the home, which was rented by the Reid family, is Allen Hyatt, Franklin route one.  (Reprinted with permission of the Daily Journal)
 

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