The cause of the fire that destroyed a mobile home in Flora and possibly killed the man who resided there has been ruled undetermined.
Flora Fire Chief Scott Sisson said the on-scene investigation into the cause of Thursday’s blaze wrapped up at about 2 a.m. the next day. Because the fire may have resulted in a fatality, the state fire marshal’s office was called to the scene. Investigators have yet to complete their report, but Sisson suspects an electrical problem.
“The cause is officially undetermined, but we feel very strongly about an electrical problem,” Sisson said during a phone interview Friday.
The report of a mobile home in flames with a person inside came in Thursday night at 8:46 p.m. By the time volunteer firefighters arrived four minutes later, the mobile home’s lone occupant, 52-year-old Johnnie Farris Dyer, had been carried out of the smoke-filled residence, which is located on the southeast side of the Carroll County town 10 miles east of Delphi.
Neighborhood kids had told their parents about smoke coming from Dyer’s home. Three men made entry, found Dyer and pulled him out. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sisson considered the actions of those three men heroic for putting themselves in danger trying to save Dyer. He said he would not recommend anyone doing that, but understood that adrenaline gets going in a situation like that and people sometimes do things they normally wouldn’t.
“We’re dressed to do that. They’re not,” Sisson said. “They definitely put themselves on the line to do that.”
Firefighters rely on training, not adrenaline, when fighting a fire, said the chief.
“Our attitude is that we will risk a little to save a lot, but we won’t risk a lot to save a little. In this case, it was worth the effort. They (those three men) saw it was something that needed done right away.”
Sisson said they extinguished the fire in about 15 minutes. The rear of the trailer suffered extensive damage while the front, where Dyer had been found, appeared to have only smoke and water damage.
Coroner J.D. Cree said results from an autopsy performed Friday morning were pending. He said he should know sometime this week whether the fire claimed Dyer’s life or a medical condition.
Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com
Local News
Fire likely electrical in nature
Autopsy results on Flora resident’s death still pending
- Local News
-
-
Eyes on the skies: Grissom air traffic crews super busy with Super Bowl
As Indianapolis gears up for the Super Bowl, Grissom Air Reserve Base air traffic controllers are preparing for a full-on blitz of game-bound fans flying through their airspace.
-
‘Clerical error’ might cost Logan $20K
A “clerical error” in calculating retirement benefits may cost Logansport $20,000, city officials say.
-
Jurors convict Flora man of attempted rape
Jurors took just four hours Thursday afternoon to convict a Flora man of attempted rape, criminal confinement, battery and receiving stolen property.
-
LHS’ video clip will rock big screens in Indy
About 40 Logansport High School students - and their non-dancing principal - will hit the big screens Friday.
-
City seeks trial in Fire Stone suit
Attorneys representing Logansport have asked for a jury trial to settle the city’s long-running dispute with the owner of Fire Stone Grill.
-
Peru to annex 1,000 acres
In 2007, the city of Peru annexed 66 acres near U.S. 24 with hopes of enticing business to the area. But Peru Mayor Jim Walker says that was just the beginning.
-
Space issues at Pioneer Elementary push students into hallways, closets
Kindergartner Avery Smith and his literacy coach played a game Tuesday in a hallway at Pioneer Elementary School.
-
Three interested in Logan police pension board
Three candidates with ties to the Logansport Police Department are interested in serving on the Police Pension Board — a board in need of members after a falling out with Mayor Ted Franklin.
-
1 injured in semi-car collision
A 55-year-old Walton man was “doing fairly well” Tuesday night following an early morning crash where his car was hit by a semitrailer, a spokesman for the Miami County Sheriff’s Department said.
-
Walton man severely injured in crash
A 55-year-old Walton man was transported to a Kokomo hospital early Tuesday with massive head and upper body injuries after hitting a semi on U.S. 31.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
