Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, April 1, 2014
(NEEDMORE) - A fire destroyed a home at 418 Kentucky Hollow Road Monday afternoon.
Black smoke could be seen from Taco Bell on 16th Street.
Volunteer Firefighters from Indian Creek, Marshall Township, Oolitic, Pleasant Run, Perry, Shawswick and the U.S. Forest Service responded. The American Red Cross, a Seals ambulance crew and TOPES was also on the scene.
Danny Reynolds, who lives just down the road, was at Taco Bell when he noticed the smoke.
"We rushed home," he says. "We thought it was our home. There was another fire just up the road not too long ago and there is a lot of meth activity in the area and been a lot of activity out here recently."
According to Oolitic VFD Chief Ted Maze, the first firefighter on the scene, the fire was bellowing out of the basement area of the two-story home.
"It was fully engulfed when I arrived," Maze says. "I could see the smoke from Pinewood and knew it was bad. The whole south side of the home was gone and the east side was heavily involved. It was a bad deal all the way around."
Chandra Holbrook, stood outside in a sweatshirt and in her socks watching her home burn. She had been working in the detached garage when the house caught fire. Her husband Dustin was working in Branchville. The couple's 13-year-old and 6-year-old sons arrived off the school bus while firefighters were hitting hot spots. A 3-year-old daughter was in daycare.
The Holbrooks rent the home from Don Wever.
The fire left the family with nothing. The American Red Cross was at the scene providing the family with housing for the night and money to purchase some clothing. To offer your support you can contact the Holbrooks at (740) 464-8246.
According to Marshall VFD Assistant Chief Jason Martin the fire consumed the home quickly.
"For a new home it went up fast," Martin added. "We don't know the exact cause; the state fire marshal has been alerted to help with the investigation."
Not only was there a house fire, but firefighters had to battle five separate field fires, all burning at the same time.
The field fires started more than 300 feet from the home.
"5.5 acres burned. The fire jumped a driveway and road," says Perry VFD Chief Max Peters. "The wind was a big factor not only in the field fires but with the house too. We had our hands full there for a while."
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