Fire destroyed a two story home in rural Cuzco late Monday night. Just before midnight last night firefighters with the Dubois Volunteer Fire-department were called to the report of an explosion near an area along the 9600 block of East Dubois-Cuzco Road.
Dubois Fire Department spokesman Zach Eichmiller says shortly thereafter Dubois County Central Dispatch received a second call reporting additional explosions in the same area. Eichmiller says upon arrival firefighters found a two-story wood frame home totally involved in flames from the ground up. Firefighters immediately called in units from Haysville & Celestine for tanker assistance.
The owner of the home, Jack Davenport, and his wife escaped the home without injury. They stated that they do not know how the fire started but it started near the back porch of the home.
Davenport said they woke up to the flames which were already very extensive at the back door.
He did make one attempt at extinguishing them to no avail.
Two dogs that were inside the home were killed. A large 5th wheel camper was located about 20 feet from the home but efforts to save it were unsuccessful. Mr Davenport told fire officials that they did not have insurance on the home and he could not confirm if the camper was insured either. Davenport said he was in contact with the Red Cross and was going to receive assistance. He and his wife stayed the night at a neighbor’s house and will have a place to stay for the immediate future.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. Dubois firefighters responded with three trucks and twenty-five men and were assisted by the Celestine Volunteer Fire Department who had one truck and six men as well as the Haysville Volunteer Fire Department who had one truck and eight men.
No one was injured, however Memorial Hospital EMS was also on the scene for standby. Units were on the scene for a little over 2 hours.
