June 28, 2003

Faulty furnace to blame

     

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       A furnace malfunction caused a fire that destroyed a $300,000 White River Township home, firefighters say.  The blaze was discovered by three Center Grove teen-agers about 10 p.m. Thursday at the home on the corner of Stones Crossing and Honey Creek roads.  The three girls, Bethany Bork, 17, Brittany Emerson, 17, and Carli Clements, 16, beat on the home’s windows and doors, trying to determine if anyone was inside.  Clements kicked in a door searching for victims, and the girls checked the garage for cars.  None were inside.  That’s because the home’s new owner, Herb Wetzel, had just purchased the home 10 days ago.  He and his wife were moving a few items in but were doing some remodeling work before occupying the home, White River Township Fire Department Lt. Jim Engmark said.  Wetzel purchases homes and repairs them for resale, but this one he was personally interested in, Engmark said.  “This was going to be a house for him and his wife,” Engmark said.  Firefighters tracked the blaze to the furnace, where they believe the furnace blower sparked the accidental blaze.  The furnace was near the middle of the older two-story farmhouse on the first floor, Engmark said.  The home is a total loss.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

Click HERE for the original story dated June 27, 2003

  

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