Bloomington, Indiana – On Friday evening, March 10, 2023, shortly before 10 o’clock in the evening, firefighters from the Monroe Fire Protection District responded to a chimney fire in the 9700 block of S Snow Road.
Due to the highly rural location of the fire, a water tender from the Center-Jackson Fire District in Greene County was requested to assist with water supply while other units were still responding to the scene. When Engines 23 and 39 arrived at the scene, they saw a visible fire emanating from the corner of the home and swiftly spreading throughout the structure.
A hose line was extended to the corner of the home by the firefighters, which slowed the development of the fire on the exterior of the house while additional firefighters brought hoses into the house to battle the fire. The fire had climbed the side of the home and into the attic space before it was contained. Workers worked throughout the property to remove drywall from the ceilings in order to uncover concealed fire spots in the attic. This was made more challenging by the high cathedral-style ceilings that were found throughout the majority of the home.
In the end, firefighters were successful in putting a halt to the development of the fire and containing it to the attic space. After the fire was extinguished, crews immediately got to work on salvaging and overhauling the building. Throughout the course of this operation, firefighters kept finding tiny flames and getting readings that indicated high temperatures in the cellulose insulation that was located in the attic. Cellulose insulation is known to trap heat and eventually start secondary fires, possibly hours later causing even more damage.
As a precaution against more fires, the fire department made the decision to remove the remaining drywall and cellulose insulation from the attic. Nevertheless, this made the disaster inside the house considerably worse. Workers remained on the scene for a number of hours, digging out the debris caused by the insulation throughout the home and making an effort to locate objects that were significant to the occupants. It was decided to reach out to the American Red Cross for assistance in providing the homeowners with a place to stay and any other necessities they might require. District de la Protection du feu de Monroe.
The homeowners stated that they had started a fire in the fireplace earlier in the day, and then later in the evening, they began to smell something burning in the house. They were present in their home at the time the fire broke out. As they went to check the scent of burning, the first thing they saw was a haze of smoke in the upper level of the home, and then they saw flames pouring out of the side of the structure. They dialed 911 and were able to get out of the house in a secure manner before the fire department arrived.
It has been determined that an accident was the source of the fire, and there were no reported casualties. Engines 23, 39, 21, 29, 22, Battalions 22 and 29, Chief 23, and Center-Jackson Fire Territory Tender 2 responded to the fire.
IU Lifeline Ambulance, REMC, and the Red Cross all gave additional aid at the location.
