BEAVER DAM LAKE – A pre-dawn fire that destroyed a home along the southeast side of Beaver Dam Lake melted the siding on three nearby homes.

The fire at 9719 S. CR 750W started at about 5:49 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24, according to Kevin McSherry, the Burket Volunteer Fire Department fire chief.

The home is owned by Terry Runyon, but it was unoccupied at the time of the fire, according to McSherry.

No injuries were reported, he said.

Much of the entire house was engulfed and the only part not destroyed was a back wall and part of the front deck.

The house to the north, just a few feet away, sustained extensive damage to the siding.

Siding also appeared to have been melted on a house several dozen yards to the south and another across the street also sustained melted siding.

“We nearly lost the second house, but the damage was contained to just siding and roofing,” said McSherry.

Richard Nelson said he and his wife, Jackie, were out on their porch on the other side of the lake drinking coffee shortly before 6 a.m. when she noticed the fire.

They had a clear view of the flames from their house, he said.

Richard Nelson called 911 and then drove over to make sure the house was empty.

“I was really surprised it didn’t catch completely on fire cause it was hot,” Nelson said. “It was hot. Flames were shooting up over these houses.”