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SELLERS LAKE - A house on Sellers Lake received heavy fire damage Saturday morning.
The Pierceton Fire Department said the house on 5814 S. E. Channel Road, sustained up to $50,000 damage.
The owner and only resident of the house, Eunice Knotts, was reportedly trapped in the home, but managed to get out without injury.
The fire apparently started in a bedroom, according to Lt. Rob Barker of the Pierceton Fire Department. The cause of the fire was ruled to be electrical, possibly due to an overloaded electrical outlet in the bedroom. A fan was reported in the area.
High temperatures Saturday caused the worst problem for fire crews, and several firefighters suffered minor heat exhaustion.
Pierceton Fire Department received the 911 call around 9:40 a.m. from Knotts' neighbor saying that smoke was coming from the house. Another neighbor reported Knotts may have been inside the burning house, but she was found standing in the street outside. She was safely taken to a neighbor's house.
When firefighters arrived, they reported the majority of the fire was in the bedroom, but smoke spread to the rest of the house. The fire was contained in the one room and was knocked down within four minutes, said Barker.
Fire crews stayed on the scene until 1:06 p.m. putting out hotspots.
The quick response by the fire departments helped stop the fire from spreading. Barker said Pierceton firemen were training Saturday and were able to get to the scene quickly.
The house suffered tremendous smoke damage, according to Barker, and may be declared a total loss.
Sidney and Winona Lake Fire Departments also responded to the fire, offering water and extra manpower. The thermal camera helmet of the Warsaw Fire Department was requested, but later called off when firefighters realized Knotts was not trapped in the house.
The Pierceton EMS were also on standby at the scene. Barker said the Ladies' Auxiliary for the Pierceton Fire Department also responded and offered cool drinks for the firemen at the scene.
