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Last updated on Monday, March 17, 2014
(JUDAH) - Firefighters from six volunteer fire departments battled a blaze at a home in the 200 block of Briar Avenue early Sunday morning.
When firefighters arrived on the scene just after midnight, smoke was bellowing out of the two-story split-level home.
"The fire was in the basement and the second story of the home," Marshall VFD Chief Chad Hayes says. "The fire had burned through the floor to the upper level."
The homeowner, Robert Prow and his roommate were able to escape unharmed.
According to Hayes, Prow woke up to take his medication and was watching television when the furnace turned on and he noticed smoke coming from the registers.
"He then went downstairs and woke his roommate who also smelled smoke," Hayes says. "Mr. Prow then went to the basement to check on his dogs and when he opened the basement door he was met with heavy thick smoke."
Prow was able to rescue his five basset hounds from the basement before firefighters arrived.
Firefighters from Marshall, Oolitic, Guthrie, Shawswick, Indian Creek and Perry VFDs did an interior attack to try and contain the blaze. While firefighters were attacking the blaze others were transporting water to the scene.
"We were able to contain and knock down and contain the blaze in the basement," Hayes says. "We then deployed an attack on the upstairs area. But the structure became unsafe for firefighters so we had to pull everyone out of the home."
Prow, his roommate and one firefighter were treated at the scene by an IU Health Hospital crew for smoke inhalation.
"No one was taken to the hospital," Hayes says.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to attached garages.
"We are estimating the loss of the home and contents at $162,000," Hayes says. "We have the state fire marshal coming to assist with investigating the cause. They should be here today or tomorrow."
Hayes is asking residents to make sure they have working smoke detectors in their home.
"There were no smoke detectors," Hayes says. "They were lucky."
The American Red Cross and TOPES were also on the scene assisting firefighters and the residents.
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