Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - No injuries were reported to family members in a Syracuse residence when their home caught fire early Saturday, but one firefighter was treated for chest pain.
According to Syracuse Fire Chief Larry Hunter, a 911 call was received at 1:23 a.m. Saturday summoning firefighters to the Nancy Olivares residence at 6949 Waco Drive. The seven people inside the home escaped without injury. Hunter said he believed all those staying at the residence were related, however not everyone lived there.
Hunter said the cause for the fire is under investigation, but it is known the fire started in a breezeway between the house and garage. The garage was fully involved when firefighters arrived on the scene and the fire also engulfed the kitchen from the breezeway and was spreading into the rest of the house.
"This was a very rough house fire for us to put out," Hunter said, adding that it was an older home with several additions and a roof built over a roof.
Firefighters were on the scene for several hours working to extinguish the blaze and were called back to the residence at 2:32 p.m. when the fire rekindled. Hunter said a firefighter was at the scene when the fire started up again and, within 10 minutes, the structure was again engulfed, with the fire consuming the rest of the house and traveling into the attic.
Fire officials then kept a vigil at the home throughout Saturday night, checking hourly to make sure it didn't rekindle.
Hunter said firefighters were concerned with a neighboring mobile home located 4 to 5 feet south of the Olivares home, but dousing that house with water and keeping an eye on the fire prevented the flames from spreading next door. The Olivares home is deemed a total loss.
The displaced family is staying with relatives in the area, Hunter said.
Syracuse Fire Department was assisted at the scene with both instances by North Webster, Milford,Cromwell and Benton Township fire departments.
