Flames billow into the sky at the back of the home. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union.
Flames billow into the sky at the back of the home. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union.
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PIERCETON – Two people escaped injury after their log cabin went up in flames in the middle of the night.

Sidney Fire Department got a call at 1:30 a.m. Monday and responded to a house fire at 6333 E. CR 700S, Pierceton.

Upon arrival, the home’s two occupants were outside after they woke up in the middle of the night and smelled smoke, SFD Chief Kevin Wagoner said.

According to county records, the home is owned by Katrina and James Ousley.

Wagoner said the Kosciusko County Highway Department had to be called to help clear a path back to the home. Once firefighters got back to the home, “it was pretty much engulfed by then,” Wagoner said.

“It was going pretty good,” Wagoner said of the fire. “My guess is we’ll never know the cause because it was a log cabin, so once it got going, there wasn’t much stopping it. It’s pretty hard to determine what caused it.”?

Estimated damage hasn’t been calculated yet, Wagoner said, but the home is a total loss. The American Red Cross made contact with the home’s occupants to help with assistance, he said.

SFD was assisted at the scene with water tankers and manpower by Winona Lake, Pierceton, Silver Lake, Claypool, Larwill and South Whitley fire departments.