SYRACUSE - An early morning fire Monday left a rural residence near Syracuse heavily damaged.
Units from the Turkey Creek Fire Territory were dispatched after an alert neighbor called in a house fire at 6523 CR 1120N at 9:07 a.m. The home is owned by Ken and Shaila Swartz, who were not home at the time of the blaze.
Upon arrival, heavy smoke was noted throughout the home. The fire was brought under control in approximately 40 minutes. There was heavy smoke and heat damage to the first floor of the structure. There were no operational smoke detectors noted in the structure.
Damage to the structure and contents are estimated at $70,000. There were no injuries during firefighting operations. Firefighters remained on the scene until 12:35 p.m.
The Turkey Creek Fire Territory was assisted at the scene by the Milford and North Webster fire departments.
The Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross assisted firefighters and the owners of the residence at the scene.
The cause of the fire has been ruled as accidental by the Turkey Creek Fire Territory.
