June 27, 2003

Center Grove teens stumble on fire in White River Township that destroys home

       On their way to Whiteland, three Center Grove teen-agers discovered a house on fire on the corner of Stones Crossing and Honey Creek roads in White River Township around 10 p.m. Thursday.  All three girls, Bethany Bork, 17, Brittany Emerson, 17, and Carli Clements, 16, say they took a wrong turn, looked out the car window and saw what they thought was a bonfire.  When they realized it was actually a home on fire, they pulled into the driveway.  Clements jumped out of the car before it was stopped and ran around knocking on windows and doors.  “Try calling 911 on the cell phone, not knowing what road you’re on,” Bork said.  “I’ve never been more scared than on the front porch with all those flames.  All the glass was breaking,” Emerson said.  Clements kicked in the back door.  “I went to go in there, but there was so much smoke,” she said.  “I told her to get back,” Bork said.  “We checked the garage and there were no cars.  We still didn’t know if the house was empty.”  “We all go on our knees and prayed that there wasn’t anybody in there,” Bork said.  The two-story wood frame farmhouse at 1150 W. Stones Crossing Road was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.  Responding to the blaze were fire departments from White River Township, Bargersville, Whiteland, Greenwood, Harrison Township, and Madison Township, and Rural/Metro firefighters.  Firefighters were still on the scene at press time.  Part of the building had collapsed, and firefighters were unable to enter the building to see if anyone was in the residence.  According to Lt. Jim Engmark of the White River Township Fire Department, it appears the home was between owners and was empty because remodeling and construction materials were found.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

Click HERE for a follow-up story and photos dated June 28, 2003

  

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