Cause of Monday Night Fire to be Investigated Today

20140128_075539The cause of a house fire on Toto Road near Fletcher’s Carpet will be investigated by a representative of the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office today.

Firefighters from the Knox-Center Township Fire Department and Bass Lake Fire Department were called to the scene Monday night and extinguished the fire after three hours of battling sub-zero temperatures and frozen water valves. Crews were called back to the scene at 3:45 a.m. Tuesday for a rekindle. Fire Chief Kenny Pfost told WKVI that heavy fire was visible in both instances.

No injuries were reported.

Office of Indiana State Fire Marshal Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary

 
 
An office that has provided the state’s residents with safety and consistency in code enforcement and in fire protection is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month.

The Office of the Indiana State Fire Marshal was established by the state legislature in 1913 to the be state’s first agency chartered to help ensure public safety. When it began, the office was simply a focal point for all of Indiana’s volunteer fire departments. Continue reading

No Cause Found in Medaryville Home Fires

 
 
The Indiana state fire marshal has found the cause of two house fires in Medaryville on July 2 to be undetermined.

Medaryville firefighters were called to a house fire on Prairie Street but when they arrived at the scene, they found a second home on fire. Firefighters from the Francesville Fire Department were then called to the scene.

The two-story house owned by Danny Clark was a complete loss while Randy Franscoviak’s home suffered severe damage to an exterior wall, rood and attic area. The main floor suffered heat, smoke and water damage.

Officials Complete Plymouth House Fire Investigation

 
 

Wednesday’s fire that destroyed a home on Pretty Lake Road in Plymouth owned by two doctors was caused by an electrical malfunction. Plymouth Fire Chief Rod Miller says the fire started in a basement storage room at Doctors Jeff and Jan Anthony Starr’s home. The residence was unoccupied at the time. Firefighters from numerous departments spent several hours bringing the blaze under control. The Plymouth Fire Department, state fire marshal’s office and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms completed the fire investigation. Monetary loss of the building and its contents is estimated at $1.1 million.

 

Fire Investigation Ongoing at Winamac Business

The fire at Dillman Tire and Auto in Winamac remains under investigation.

An investigator with the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office is expected to return to the fire scene today. Winamac Fire Chief Bill Weaver said the representative was unable to get to Winamac earlier this week to conduct the investigation.

The late night fire destroyed the business at the corner of Logan and Pearl streets. It started late Friday night and four fire departments struggled to contain the blaze. Firefighters were able to leave the scene six hours later. Weaver has not given a preliminary cause of the fire. He hopes answers as to the cause of the blaze will be found soon.

Indiana State Fire Marshal to Investigate Cause of Winamac Fire

An investigator with the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office will be in Winamac today to delve further into what caused a late Friday night fire at Dillman Tire.

The Winamac Fire Department was called to the business located at the corner of Logan and Pearl Streets at approximately 11:20 p.m. ET as several people going by noticed smoke coming from the building.

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North Judson House Fire Injures Child

The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department was called to a house fire Tuesday morning at about 10:13 a.m.

Firefighters, Starke County EMS and the North Judson Police Department responded to 3942 W. 3rd Street. The fire was contained to the upper level of the home and the home sustained major smoke damage. A two-year-old child was taken from the residence to IU Health Starke Hospital and hospitalized.

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Medaryville Fire Department Investigates House Fire

The Medaryville Fire Department and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a house fire that erupted Sunday evening.

Fire Chief Shaun Hauptli said that when the fire department arrived on scene, the southern part of the home at 210 W. Main Street was engulfed in flames. The home was occupied at the time of the fire and it was on the market. The home was considered a total loss. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

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Fire Safety Advice Stressed after Fire Consumes House in Washington Township

Fire crews remain on the scene of a fire at 2915 S. 800 E. in Washington Township

Fred Sumpter from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office ruled the fire at 2915 S. and 800 E. in Washington Township Friday morning as accidental. A wood burner was the cause of the fire.

Washington Township Assistant Fire Chief, Dave Pearman, said that if you use a wood burning stove, keep it clean and make sure that it is cleaned before the heating season.

Pearman has another piece of fire safety advice.

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Knox-Center Township Fire Department Battles House Fire

The Knox-Center Township Fire Department fought a fire at Judy Sinn’s residence at 5655 E. 250 N. in Knox yesterday morning.

Fire Chief Ken Pfost told WKVI that a representative from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office determined it was accidental. The fire started in a recessed light fixture in the kitchen. Over $75,000 in damage was done and no injuries were reported at the scene.

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North Judson Street Crews Plow 28 Inches of Snow, Citizens Asked to Uncover Fire Hydrants

North Judson Utility Superintendent, Dan Anderson, reported to the North Judson Clerk’s Office that street crews have plowed 28 inches of snow. Citizens are asked to remove snow from around fire hydrants in case of an emergency. If the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department was called to a fire and the fire hydrant was covered with snow and not visible, firefighters would be delayed in putting out a fire.

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Week in Review for December 6th-10th, 2010

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.

Diana Jedynak, 67, died of fire related injuries after her home caught fire early Monday morning in Washington Township. Indiana State Fire Marshal, Fred Sumpter, said the investigation into the cause of the fire was postponed due to the weather conditions and the integrity of the structure.

Northwest Indiana Forum, Inc.

The Northwest Indiana Forum’s Board of Directors have voted to acknowldge the organization’s service territory to extend beyond Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties to include Newton, Jasper and Pulaski Counties.

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