A fire broke out at a house in the 900 block of South Fifth Street in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday afternoon. The blaze quickly spread to neighboring homes, destroying one and causing severe damage to others.
According to the Terre Haute Fire Department, the call for the fire came in around 1:45 PM. By the time firefighters arrived at the scene, flames were already engulfing the two-story home. The intensity of the fire made it difficult for crews to enter and they had to resort to an exterior attack.
The house where the fire originated was completely destroyed, leaving nothing but charred remains. The heat from the blaze also caused severe damage to two neighboring houses, with one being declared a total loss.
Thankfully, no one was home at the time of the fire and there were no reported injuries. However, one family has been displaced as a result of the destruction of their home.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest it may have started in the kitchen. Investigators are also looking into whether or not smoke alarms were present and functioning in the home.
The Terre Haute Fire Department would like to remind residents to regularly check their smoke alarms and have a fire escape plan in place. In the event of a fire, every second counts.
This is not the first time a house fire has devastated families in Terre Haute. In 2019, there were 43 structure fires reported in the city, resulting in over $1 million in property damage.
The community has already begun rallying around the affected family, with a GoFundMe page set up to help them get back on their feet. The Red Cross has also stepped in to provide assistance to those displaced by the fire.