WALTON — Jim Grimes helplessly looked on from the farmland next to his house as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames consuming the Walton residence.
Thick smoke continued to escape from the openings made by firefighters in the roof and through the broken windows. Flames shot up the back portion of the second story and the roof finally gave way.
“I don’t know what happened,” Grimes said. “It’s just unbelievable and the wind, there’s just no way to save it.”
Walton Fire Department received the call at approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday and responded to the two-story structure fire, located at 6292E 600S in Walton.
Grimes and his family have been living in Arizona for five years, but had been renting out the house where they lived for 10 years. After the last family moved, Grimes had to make upgrades so no one was living in the house at the time of the fire.
Contractors had just completed work in the home and Grimes came to Walton to look it over. While in town, he decided to install new carpeting.
While tearing out the old carpet in the front room, he heard a strange faint bell sound coming from another portion of the house. He believed the bell was an old fire alarm.
“I went to check where it was coming from,” he said. “I looked in the room and just saw flames, so I ran out and called 9-1-1.”
Walton firefighter Dave Jump said it was believed the fire may have started in the attic, but was not certain. On their arrival, Walton firefighters witnessed heavy smoke blowing from beneath the eaves of the house across U.S. 35. The highway was closed for a while due to smoke and emergency equipment.
“The fire broke through the east side of the house about an hour after we arrived,” he said. “The house had been remodeled several times and there are several ceilings, so it’s been hard to get to the source of the fire.”
After a number of firefighters were sent inside to attack the fire, the roof began to cave in and Jump said the men were called out.
Jump expected it would to take several hours for the firefighters to get the fire under control.
Onward, Galveston, Logansport and Young America fire departments provided truck and manpower assistance at the scene. The fire is still under investigation.
The house sustained extensive fire and water damage and was expected to be a total loss.
Grimes was thankful for all the firefighters who came out to help fight the fire.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “ I have a lot of mixed feelings. I just don’t know what to think or to feel.”
• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com
Local News
Fire consumes Walton residence
Firefighters fought for several hours to extinguish blaze
- 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
-








