MILFORD — A mobile home in the Waubee Mobile Home Park south of Milford was heavily burned by fire Friday night, Oct. 26 just days after the owner said he evicted the occupants.

Dispatchers called out firefighting units and EMS from Milford at 9:22 p.m. Friday for the fire at 427 E. CR 1150N, Lot 2 and told first responders that the structure may be a methamphetamine lab. “I wouldn’t doubt it, knowing him,” said Doug Stump owner of the home. Stump said he had taken steps to remove the occupants prior to the fire.

“I think they got their papers from the court yesterday, but I evicted them Friday,” Stump said. “They haven’t had any electricity for awhile. They’ve been stealing electricity off the pole. I called NIPSCO yesterday for fraud for them stealing electricity.”

Stump said he hadn’t seen the home from the inside for some time, but guessed he would have torn the home down even if the fire hadn’t occurred. “Probably, because I’m sure it was a mess,” he said.

Milford firefighters called for assistance from Leesburg and Syracuse. Also responding to the scene were other county units, including the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and the Milford Police Department. The first is still being investigated.

Home owner Doug Stump in the red hat, surveys the damage from Friday’s fire.