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Last updated on Monday, July 2, 2012
(BEDFORD) - Firefighters from 8 volunteer fire departments extinguished a blaze that destroyed a home in the 2000 block of South Leatherwood Road and burned more than 5 acres Saturday afternoon.
One firefighter from Shawswick Volunteer Fire Department was injured when a tree limb fell and hit him in the head. The firefighter suffered a concussion and received 10 stitches to close the wound.
Other firefighters were overcome by the heat and had to be put in ambulances from IU Bedford Health Hospital and Rural Metro. Firefighters were treated and recovered in the air conditioning.
The fire started at the home of Mike and Linda Miller just before 2 p.m. and firefighters have returned to the home three times because the fire has rekindled. They were there again this morning.
Shawswick VFD Chief Bobby Brown says the fire was shooting out of the roof when firefighters arrived.
"When that happens, there is not much you can do to save the building," Brown says. "The home sat way off the road and no one noticed the blaze. The Millers were not home when the fire started. The couple had left about two hours before the fire was reported to visit Linda's parents."
Firefighters from Shawswick, Marshall, Guthrie, Pleasant Run, Indian Creek, Huron, Marion and Oolitic battled the blaze at the 2-story log home.
"It took all of us working together to get this blaze under control," Brown says. "Not only did we have the house fire, but the field fire too. The dry conditions and the home being made of logs keep the fires burning."
Brown says three fire departments shuttled water, while other firefighters rotated in and out battling the fire.
Perry Clear Creek in Bloomington offered their service and Carr Township and Jackson County were put on stand-by.
TOPS was there to provide drinks and food and provided a cooling system for firefighters.
"It blows a cool mist of water on firefighters," Brown says. "Cosner's Ice also brought us out some ice. I don't know what firefighters would have done without TOPS , Cosner's and the ambulance crews. The heat from the blaze and the outside temperatures were overwhelming."
Brown says he is proud of Lawrence County's volunteer firefighters.
"These firefighters give it their all," he added. "It doesn't matter what the call is they are there giving it all they have to help in any way they can."
Brown says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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