Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - A garage and two vehicles were destroyed and a house damaged in a Thanksgiving Day fire on Lake Wawasee.
Curt Smith of 11465 N.E. Wawasee Drive, Syracuse, was preparing to deep fry a turkey in a propane-fueled deep fryer set up in the garage when the fire began shortly before 10 a.m. Syracuse Fire Department Chief Larry Hunter said there was apparently some sort of malfunction with the fryer, but could not say if the fire started in the fryer itself. Hunter said he is sure the fire began somewhere around the fryer.
Two of three propane tanks in the garage exploded in the fire and two vehicles parked outside the garage caught fire and were destroyed, Hunter said.
Smith told fire officials he spotted the small fire but was unable to extinguish it before it became a big fire. When firefighters arrived, the attached garage was fully engulfed and the fire had started into the home, causing damage to the kitchen and family room. Smoke damage also was reported in an upstairs foyer.
No human injuries were reported, but the family's cat was found unconscious and lifeless under a bed. Rescuers performed CPR and rescue breathing on the animal while administering oxygen, and Hunter said the animal "came around" and appears to be OK.
Smith was occupying the home he is purchasing on land contract from Tony Herman, who holds the insurance policy on the house.
Cromwell Fire Department provided assistance to the SFD in fighting the fire.
