Three Firemen Hurt

PIERCETON - Three Pierceton firemen were injured fighting a fire that gutted the home of Joe and Gale Englehaupt at 3569 CR 600S Saturday afternoon.

Tim Campbell was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital for smoke inhalation and bruises to his ribs and released. He was injured when he fell down the basement stairs of the home on his way to fight the main source of the fire. His protective mask apparently came loose in the fall and left him exposed to the heavy smoke for a short period of time.

Tony Himes and Matt Brubaker were treated with oxygen at the scene of the fire.

The fire began in the basement and was ruled accidental with the exact cause still undetermined. Pierceton Lt. Rob Barker said the fire department's investigation is done, but the insurance company may decide to pursue another investigation.

The house was ruled a total loss. The brick walls were left standing, but the interior was gutted, according to firemen.

The Pierceton Fire Department reported the Englehaupts arrived home at 2 p.m. Saturday and found the home filled with smoke. They went to a neighbor's house to call the fire department.

Firemen arrived to find the fire gutting the basement. Barker said the fire had burned through the floor into the first floor of the home.

"We made our attack through the basement," Barker said. The men used a wood chute in the side of the basement as one access into the fire. They were unable to enter the home through the front door because the floor was gone, Barker said.

Using the basement stairway was "treacherous," according to Barker, and resulted in Campbell's injuries.

The Warsaw, Winona Lake, Sidney and North Webster fire departments assisted at the scene. The fire was contained to the house.

Barker said the blaze was under control in 35 minutes but firefighters stayed at the scene for five hours.