June 14, 2004

WRT home gutted by fire

       While many in central Indiana sought shelter during early-evening storms Sunday, one White River Township family sought safety from a fire that destroyed much of its house.  Garry and Susan Lear and their 18-year-old daughter, Jenny, were sitting together on the main floor of their home when they saw lightning hit their house at 4633 Abberton Drive about 5 p.m.  No injuries were reported.  Lightning was probably the cause of the blaze, but that won’t be certain until investigators examine the house, firefighters said.  Low on manpower, the White River Township Fire Department had help from four other departments – Greenwood, Bargersville, and Decatur and Perry Township departments – fighting the blaze for almost two hours.  White River Township Fire Department Battalion Chief Joel Thacker said when he arrived 10 minutes after the fire started, heavy smoke was coming from the roof.  The attic, stretching across the entire second story of the house, was destroyed, Thacker said.  Surrounding houses suffered minor shingle damage.  A damage estimate was not available Sunday night.  Susan Lear said her husband had just brought the car into the garage when she saw lightning hit the front of the house.  Gathering their two dogs and daughter, the Lear family made it to safety.  A pet cat was missing, but Susan Lear said it often runs to the basement during storms.  A second daughter, Katie, 20, was not at home when the fire started.  This wasn’t the first time the Lear family has dealt with a lightning strike since moving into their home five years ago.  In 2002, the family had to replace all electrical outlets after the house was hit by lightning.  The home didn’t suffer any other damage from that lightning strike.  (Reproduced with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

           
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