Jasper fire destroys home on 13th Street

A family was displaced when a fire destroyed their home on the 100 block of 13th Street in Jasper on Sunday morning.

The Jasper Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at about 9 a.m. When they arrived, responders found smoke pouring out of the house and began working to suppress the fire to prevent it from spreading to nearby structures.

According to Jasper Fire Chief Kenny Hochgesang, three people were in the home when the fire started. The residents told him they smelled smoke and discovered an electric heater in the basement had caught fire. They attempted to extinguish it but were unable to do so, and it quickly spread through the interior of the home. They escaped from the home.

Firefighters were on scene until 1:47 p.m. putting out hotspots after knocking the blaze down. Hochgesang said the house and it’s contents were likely a total loss due to the extent of damages.

One of the four occupants was treated and transported to Memorial Hospital for issues due to smoke inhalation.

Due to the extensive nature of the fire, which resulted from the accumulation of combustible material in the home, the responding firefighters were exhausted, and a couple was treated on the scene for heat exhaustion. With 32 firefighters of the department’s 38-person roster working the fire and the extensive amount of equipment utilized, Chief Hochgesang requested assistance from Huntingburg to cover calls in Jasper for Sunday.

“Huntingburg has a truck and four guys at our station to take calls for awhile,” Hochgesang said.

The department also responded with four trucks, including the ladder truck, to spray water onto the home through the collapsed roof.

On Monday, Hochgesang said the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office had responded to investigate the fire.

While the family does have a place to stay, Chief Hochgesang said he contacted the American Red Cross to assist them with medications, clothing, and food vouchers. To find out how you can help, visit the regional Red Cross office online at http://www.tristateredcross.org.

Additionally, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family. It states the home was uninsured because the policy was canceled after storm damage to the roof. Those wishing to offer support can donate by visiting the GoFundMe campaign here.

Correction: The story mistakenly said the fire occurred on the 400 block of 13th Street. It occurred on the 100 block, specifically 109 East 13th Street. The story has been corrected.