by Kevin Lilly
A home just one block from the Logansport central fire station suffered extensive damage from a blaze that broke out Sunday morning.
Firefighters responded to 801 High St. at 6:15 a.m. to find flames shooting from the front door and three windows of the two-story structure, a report stated. The firefighters made entry into the front and back of the home, knocked down a portion of the fire then began searching for residents.
The house is rented by Christopher and Amber Wallar from owner Jeff Murray. No one was home at the time of the fire but two family pets — a dog and a lizard — died in the blaze.
Fire investigator Ted Franklin ruled the fire accidental. He said a heat lamp on top of the lizard’s cage somehow got knocked to the ground, where it laid long enough to ignite contents of the room.
Franklin said the boxer dog had gotten loose from its cage so could have caused the heat lamp to fall. He added that had the residents been home the fire would likely have been prevented because the lamp probably laid on the floor for hours.
“If they would have been home, they would have caught this fire. It wouldn’t have been as bad as it was,” Franklin said.
The last person in the house was the brother of one the residents. He stopped by at about 7 p.m. Saturday to feed the animals, Franklin said. A person passing by reported the fire.
Firefighters knocked the fire down quickly and contained it to a downstairs bedroom, the foyer and kitchen, Franklin said. They were on scene a little more than an hour, according to a report.
Fire consumed many of the contents inside. The Wallars were able to salvage kids clothes, toys and other items.
The two bedrooms upstairs suffered heavy heat and smoke damage. There was smoke and water damage throughout the house. Franklin estimated the fire caused approximately $75,000 in damages.
Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
