Weather Hampers Firefighters’ Efforts To Control Blaze
Weather Hampers Firefighters’ Efforts To Control Blaze
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Weather Hampers Firefighters’ Efforts To Control BlazeFirefighters had a “considerable” amount of trouble fighting a house fire on West CR 200S Thursday night due to freezing temperatures, according to Burket Fire Chief Kevin McSherry.
A neighbor reported at about 8:40 p.m. Thursday that flames were visible at the home at 5819 W. CR 200S, Warsaw, which is owned by Teddy W. Hall. No one was home at the time of the fire. Firefighters battled the blaze until 2 a.m. today and no injuries were reported.
McSherry said the regulators on the firefighters’ air packs froze up and didn’t allow them to breathe as they needed to.
“I want to recognize (Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory) Chief Mike Wilson and Battalion Chief Rob Barker for bringing out a rehab trailer to warm us up. We had frostbite and water-soaked gear ... With the trailer we were able to get a dozen firefighters in the trailer and warmed up and back to work,” McSherry said.
“The fire departments work together tremendously. They go way out of their way to help other departments in a case like this.”
While the cause of the blaze is undetermined, the home is considered a total loss at more than $200,000 in damages.
McSherry said he felt sorry for Hall as they weren’t able to save the home. Firefighters were able to recover some important documents for him, but it was still a “devastating blow.”
“As firefighters we take our job seriously and we try to save properties. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out this time,”?he said. “It could have been worse if it had happened a day or two before with the worse temperatures.”
Over 30 Mentone and Burket firefighters were on scene, with Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory providing a tanker truck and the rehab trailer.
