June 20, 1996

House fire caused by lightning

       Lightning sparked a fire in a White River Township home Wednesday that caused extensive damage and killed a family cat.  The blaze at 6172 Deerwood Drive was called in around 4 p.m. by a neighbor who saw smoke rising from the two-story, brick-and-wood house. No one was home at the time.  White River Township and Bargersville firefighters found the fire largely confined to an upstairs bedroom. They cut a hole in the roof to vent the fire and had it under control within a short time. Carey Slauter, White River Fire Department safety officer, said lightning apparently struck the chimney, starting the fire in the attic. It spread from there to the second story.  The corner bedroom sustained major fire damage, and there was smoke and water damage throughout the second story of the house. A damage estimate had not been calculated.  No one was injured, but a few firefighters wilted in the heat and humidity. They were checked by paramedics while they cooled off in the yard. Homeowner Ron Feeney was paged by a neighbor, who notified him of the fire. He immediately returned home, only to find that firefighters were not able to save - his son’s cat, Pudding. The family had owned the mixed-breed house- cat for about five years, he said.  The 10-year-old house had sustained hail damage in the April 19 storm that ripped through White River Township.  “We just got the (insurance) check in the mail to get the roof repaired,” Feeney said.  “We had to get one more estimate.”  Instead of a few shingles, the Feeneys and their two sons will need more extensive home repairs. They have fire insurance and will stay with relatives until the house is repaired, Ron Feeney, said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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