Firefighters were met with a totally engulfed house fire. Photos by Deb Patterson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Firefighters from four fire departments braved the heat in their turnout gear to battle a house fire at 6028 E. Searfoss Drive, Syracuse.

The fire was reported by a passing motorist around 1:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, June 14. Turkey Creek Fire Territory immediately called for tanker and manpower assistance from Benton and Tippecanoe Township Fire Territory. Milford Fire Department was called to provide manpower. The garage area quickly went up in flames, with the fire spreading to the remainder of the house.

Temperatures were in the 90s with the heat index at 100 degrees or above when the fire broke out. Firefighters were frequently rotated. Wearing the turnout gear, the temperature for firefighters potentially reached 200 degrees. One firefighter was being treated at the scene due to the heat.

The home at 6028 E. Searfoss Drive, Syracuse, was quickly destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon, June 14. Four fire departments responded with manpower to frequently switch out firefighters at the scene.

Because Searfoss Drive is a narrow road, only one fire truck could reach the fire. Using a 6-inch main line, water was pumped from Pickwick Drive through another engine. That engine was constantly supplied from a portable dump tank set up on Pickwick. Tankers shuttled water from a fire hydrant near Miller’s Merry Manor.

The home, according to the Kosciusko County Beacon mapping system, is owned by Robert T. and Paula K. Searfoss.

No one was home when the fire broke out. It is said that due to not having power, a generator was being used.

The home, its contents and the contents in a garage, including two vehicles, were a total loss.