May 30, 1996

Fire destroys vacant home

       A Whiteland farmhouse more than a century old burned to the ground Wednesday after it was struck by lightning.  The vacant house, located on County Road 125W just north of Tracy Road, was a total loss.  Fire investigators believe lightning struck the northwest corner of the second story, causing a fire to smolder.  "It festered inside the house until it got a breath of air, and then (the house) was gone," said Whiteland Fire Chief John Donica.  A passerby called for help, but when firefighters arrived at 1:18 a.m., it was too late.  "When I first got there, it was totally engulfed," Donica said.  "The second floor had already burned away, and the first floor was burning mightily."

         Whiteland firefighters were assisted by crews from Bargersville, New Whiteland and White River Township.  Using water from tanker trucks, it took them about an hour to get the fire under control, but there was nothing left to save.  "You can't tell there was a house there," Donica said.

         No one was injured.  The house, which was at least 120 years old and had been unoccupied for two years, was owned by Geraldine Bagby.  Damage was estimated at $70,000, and the house was not insured.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

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