March 8, 1995

Fire damages county home

       Belongings stored next to a natural gas furnace apparently started a fire that caused substantial damage to a White River Township home Tuesday.  There were no serious injuries in the blaze at 4868 Nance Lane, but resident Jean Pollard was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.  The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department reported that at 1:16 p.m. Pollard heard an explosion inside her house, saw smoke and heard the smoke alarm go off.  She got out of the house and called the fire department.  Responding to the scene were 16 firefighters from the White River Township and Bargersville fire departments.  The fire was extinguished by 2:33 p.m.  The blaze was sparked by bags of stored clothing and stuffed animals stacked next to the furnace.  The fire spread through the vents into the gas furnace, and then traveled through the house, said White River Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy PeIl.   Most of the fire damage was in the basement, exterior walls and attic. The amount of damage to the $100,000 home was undetermined.  No one else was at home when the fire broke out. The Pollard family is insured and is staying with friends, the Sheriff’s Department reported.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

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