Silver Lake Fire Injures Two Children

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor-

SILVER LAKE - Two children remain hospitalized after a fire at their Silver Lake residence Monday night in which their parents also were injured. A third child escaped the home uninjured.

Silver Lake Fire Department was called to the Brian Sherrill residence on Ind. 14 about 10 p.m. Monday after smoke alarms awakened the sleeping family.

Katelyn Sherrill, 5, and Cody Sherrill, 7, both were airlifted to St. Joseph Hospital Regional Burn Center, where Cody is listed in critical condition with smoke inhalation and Katelyn is in good condition with burns to both hands and smoke inhalation. Cody also inhaled a lot of soot, which means his lungs could have burns, according to Silver Lake Fire Chief Morris Jones. Information as to the degree of burns suffered was not available.

Brian Sherrill, 27, was admitted to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition this morning, and Michelle Sherrill, no age available, was treated at KCH for cuts and scrapes and released.

According to officials, the fire started in an upstairs bedroom of the two-story wooden farmhouse. A cause has not yet been determined, and the investigation has been turned over to the State Fire Marshal's Office and Squad 70, the county's fire investigation team.

Jones said Brian Sherrill was asleep in a downstairs bedroom when he was awakened by a beeping noise, which he realized was a fire alarm. He awakened his wife, Michelle, who was asleep on the couch and their 8-year-old son, Stephen, who was asleep on the floor in front of the television.

Michelle took Stephen outside while Brian - who is a volunteer fireman - went upstairs for the other two children. After locating Katelyn, Brian reportedly took her outside and went back in to find Cody when Brian was overcome by smoke. Michelle then apparently helped Brian get back outside and went upstairs for Cody. She found the boy and, instead of going back through the burning house, dropped him out a second-story window before jumping out to safety herself.

Jones said the fire was under control in 30 to 45 minutes and firefighters were on the scene until about 5 a.m. Silver Lake Fire Department received assistance from Claypool, Sidney and Henry township fire departments.

Damage to the house and contents is estimated at $50,000.

In a Monday afternoon fire, Warsaw Fire Department was called to a house at 712 N. Ellsworth St., where it is believed an electrical cord possibly ignited upholstery materials in a former furniture repair shop.

The owner of the house, Willis Adams, was apparently working to convert the house to a rental unit, fire officials said.

Warsaw Fire Chief Ken Shepherd said the fire was under control in about 10 minutes, but crews worked for more than an hour to remove smoldering foam rubber and upholstery materials in the attic space where the fire originated.

Damage is estimated at $15,000. [[In-content Ad]]

SILVER LAKE - Two children remain hospitalized after a fire at their Silver Lake residence Monday night in which their parents also were injured. A third child escaped the home uninjured.

Silver Lake Fire Department was called to the Brian Sherrill residence on Ind. 14 about 10 p.m. Monday after smoke alarms awakened the sleeping family.

Katelyn Sherrill, 5, and Cody Sherrill, 7, both were airlifted to St. Joseph Hospital Regional Burn Center, where Cody is listed in critical condition with smoke inhalation and Katelyn is in good condition with burns to both hands and smoke inhalation. Cody also inhaled a lot of soot, which means his lungs could have burns, according to Silver Lake Fire Chief Morris Jones. Information as to the degree of burns suffered was not available.

Brian Sherrill, 27, was admitted to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition this morning, and Michelle Sherrill, no age available, was treated at KCH for cuts and scrapes and released.

According to officials, the fire started in an upstairs bedroom of the two-story wooden farmhouse. A cause has not yet been determined, and the investigation has been turned over to the State Fire Marshal's Office and Squad 70, the county's fire investigation team.

Jones said Brian Sherrill was asleep in a downstairs bedroom when he was awakened by a beeping noise, which he realized was a fire alarm. He awakened his wife, Michelle, who was asleep on the couch and their 8-year-old son, Stephen, who was asleep on the floor in front of the television.

Michelle took Stephen outside while Brian - who is a volunteer fireman - went upstairs for the other two children. After locating Katelyn, Brian reportedly took her outside and went back in to find Cody when Brian was overcome by smoke. Michelle then apparently helped Brian get back outside and went upstairs for Cody. She found the boy and, instead of going back through the burning house, dropped him out a second-story window before jumping out to safety herself.

Jones said the fire was under control in 30 to 45 minutes and firefighters were on the scene until about 5 a.m. Silver Lake Fire Department received assistance from Claypool, Sidney and Henry township fire departments.

Damage to the house and contents is estimated at $50,000.

In a Monday afternoon fire, Warsaw Fire Department was called to a house at 712 N. Ellsworth St., where it is believed an electrical cord possibly ignited upholstery materials in a former furniture repair shop.

The owner of the house, Willis Adams, was apparently working to convert the house to a rental unit, fire officials said.

Warsaw Fire Chief Ken Shepherd said the fire was under control in about 10 minutes, but crews worked for more than an hour to remove smoldering foam rubber and upholstery materials in the attic space where the fire originated.

Damage is estimated at $15,000. [[In-content Ad]]

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