December 31, 1998

Model house gutted

       Firefighters suspect the blaze that destroyed a vacant house Tuesday night in White River Township is a case of arson.  The house on an unpaved road in the unfinished Cricket Ridge subdivision burned down, causing an estimated loss of $200,000 to $250,000.  White River township firefighters were dispatched at 12:27 a.m. Wednesday to the two-story house with a basement. When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames.  “Most of the roof had already collapsed. One of the walls had partially collapsed, and fire was coming out of every hole,” said Lt. Casey Arkins of the White River Township Fire Department.  A total of 25 firefighters attacked the blaze, using water from tanker trucks as there were no hydrants in the area. Strong winds and bitter cold complicated matters, and it took about two hours to get the fire under control.  “Everything is a big pile of rubble now,” Arkins said.  Investigators were immediately suspicious, since lightning or electric-related causes appear to be ruled out. There was little electricity running through the vacant house — just two light bulbs and a smoke alarm. Except for cabinets, the house was unfurnished.  Arson is a possibility. Arkins said there have been numerous complaints of criminal mischief and juvenile vandalism in the area.  The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department is also investigating. Detective Duane Burgess said there was a “sketchy description” of a vehicle that may have been seen in the area.  “There are two people we’re looking at that we’re going to speak to,” Burgess said. Arson causing at least $5,000 damage is a class B felony under state law, punishable by six to 20 years in prison. Even a juvenile suspect potentially could be charged as an adult, due to the seriousness of the offense.  The unoccupied house was owed by Re/Max Realtors, Arkins said. According to the Johnson County Department of Planning and Zoning, it was one of two model homes in the unfinished subdivision.  No firefighters were injured extinguishing the blaze. Bargersville and New Whiteland firefighters assisted the White River Township Fire Department in the incident.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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