January 10, 1995

Arson suspected in blaze

       Arson was the cause of a weekend fire that did extensive damage to a home under construction and injured a volunteer firefighter.  The luxury home, in a new subdivision near county roads 400W and 800N, was nearly completed when the fire broke out.  The first firefighters on the scene found the front door had been forced open, and investigators also determined that an accelerant of some kind was used to start the fire. Investigators also found footprints in the snow near the home, at 3985 Olea Court.  “Obviously, we’ve got some leads that we’re following up on,” said Johnson County Sheriff’s Detective Doran Miller.  Firefighters from Greenwood and Bargersville helped the White River Township Volunteer Fire Department combat the blaze.  “It pretty much smoked the whole thing, and ruined the woodwork,” said Cassin, who added that the fire was under control within about a half how. The injured firefighter, Joe Heuchan, fell about 10 feet through the first floor to the basement and broke his shoulder, Cassin said. Heuchan was quickly rescued from the basement by his comrades, and was treated and released from Community Hospital South.  J. Greg Allen, who is building the home, said be didn’t know why his project was targeted for arson.  “We don’t know any reason to believe there’s anybody who wants to damage us,” he said. “It’s hard to say. It could be kids.”  Allen’s business generally builds 30-35 homes per year, most of them in White River Township.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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