UPDATE: Six Treated After Syracuse Fire

Written on June 19, 2012 by InkFreeNews Archive

Categories: Archive 2012, News Archive 2012

Tags: 702 N. Harrison St., Facebook, Lisa Glon, syracuse

701 Harrison St. — Fireman battle a house fire at 701 N. Harrison St., Syracuse. The blaze was reported just before midnight last night. Six people were taken to area hospitals for treatment. (Photo by Martha Stoelting)

A home at 701 N. Harrison St., Syracuse, was reportedly on fire at approximately 11:49 p.m. Monday.

The Syracuse Fire Department arrived on the scene and immediately called Benton Township and North Webster fire departments for assistance.

Syracuse Police Officer Joe Denton was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. He was released from the hospital at 3 a.m.

Five other people were also treated, including Syracuse Police Officer Ben Hostetler, who was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. According to Syracuse Police Chief Tony Ciriello, four occupants of the second story apartment all suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to Goshen General Hospital for treatment. They were Kevin Simons, Alexis Binder and their two children, Hunter and Hannah Simmons. All have since been released.

Syracuse apt fire — The Syracuse apartment is in ruins this morning. (Photo by Martha Stoelting)

Ciriello says neighbor Tim Plank did call 911 but it was officers Denton and Hostetler who are credited for getting the people out of the burning building. The first floor occupants were not home when the fire started, but a dog was rescued.

County records indicate the structure is owned by Eleazar and Peggy Cadena of Ligonier, Indiana. Estimated damage is $60,000.00.

Due to the strong west-northwest winds firefighters used Syracuse’s aerial truck to battle the blaze. The fire seemed to have originated on the southwest corner of the home and run up the corner to the roof line to the roof.The home was built in 1910 had a unit upstairs and a unit downstairs and was originally a single family home. No cause for the fire has yet been determined and it remains under investigation.

The Turkey Creek Fire Territory was also assisted at the scene by the Benton Township Fire Department, the North Webster Fire Department and EMS, the Kosciusko County Fire Investigation Team and the Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross.