May 15, 1982

Officials investigating home fire

       White River Township fire officials are still investigating the cause of a fire that routed a White River Township couple from bed and extensively damaged their home early Saturday morning. One township firefighter, Damon Duncan, suffered smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion while fighting the fire and was treated and released from St. Francis Hospital Center, Beech Grove. Dexter Adams, 4034 Nevermind Way in Carefree South, reported to fire officials that he and his wife were asleep when he was awakened to popping and crackling noises coming from the garage attached to his home. He found the interior of the garage engulfed in flames. According to reports, flames had broken through the roof by the time fire units arrived four minutes after the first alarm was sounded. Firefighters contained the fire to the garage and the kitchen areas but the rest of the house suffered extensive smoke damage, according to the White River Fire spokeswoman Pat McDaniel. Two cars parked in the garage were destroyed completely by the fire and a pickup truck and a camper parked nearby were damaged by intense heat from the fire. White River was assisted by, Greenwood and Perry Township Fire Departments, in manpower and hauling water to the fire scene. Mrs. McDaniel said the firefighting efforts were hampered because there are no hydrants in Carefree South and water had to be hauled from North Grove Elementary School, about a mile and a half away. She said that at one point during the fire, firefighters ran out of water completely and had to wait to continue their efforts to extinguish the blaze until the next tanker truck returned from North Grove. Under an arrangement agreed among area residents, Indiana Cities Water and the State Public Service Commission, hydrants currently are being installed in existing subdivisions in the northern third of the township. Burt the installation project has not gotten to Carefree yet.  See a related story and photos HERE.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)
 
 
 

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