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Cause of fire is undetermined |
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Wednesday, January 02 2008 |
By CHRIS MEYERS
Staff writer
The cause of a Sunday house fire in Columbia City has been ruled undetermined and the investigation is now in the hands of the insurance company, according to local fire officials.
Heavy smoke and some flames were already coming from the windows when firefighters arrived at about 4 p.m. at 314 E. Chicago St.
Firefighters had received reports that a woman was trapped in the house and they quickly located her and took her outside for further medical treatment.
A Whitley County EMS crew gave some care at the scene and then rushed the woman, whose name has not been released, to St. Joe Hospital in Fort Wayne, according to a press release from the Columbia City Fire Department.
The fire was under control shortly after 4:30 p.m., but it had already caused significant damage to the structure.
Initial reports indicated a firefighter was also treated for smoke inhalation.
The Indiana State Fire Marshall’s Office and Warsaw Fire Department also had officials on-scene to help with an investigation into the cause.
Columbia City fire chief Tom LaRue said an ATF K-9 unit was called to the scene as a precaution because it can sniff for accelerants, but none were found.
“We did it just to cover our bases,” he said. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, January 03 2008 )
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