CROMWELL — Around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, Aug. 1, local fire departments began fighting a house fire near the intersection of SR 5 and CR 200N in Cromwell.

Albion Fire Department, Sparta Township Fire Department (Cromwell), Turkey Creek Township Fire Territory (Syracuse), North Webster Fire Department and Perry Township Fire Department (Ligonier) each dispatched equipment and firefighters to the scene, and the departments worked together to keep continuous water on three sides of the home.

Fire officials tore off siding and shattered windows to locate hotspots within the home long after flames were extinguished. The back side of the house sustained extensive damage, including a parked vehicle located beside the home.

Many neighbors stood outside their homes watching the events unfold, and volunteers stepped up to provide ice and water to the exhausted firefighters. Firefighters took turns fighting the blaze and manning the hose, switching off with firefighters from a different department to peel off soaked clothing and drink bottled water.

The blaze has not yet been marked under control by the fire departments.