Updated at 3:03 p.m.: Daviess County Fire Chief Eric Coleman said the fire was reported at 12:03 p.m. and was already well established when crews arrived, with the log cabin considered a total loss.
“The fire was well established before we got on scene,” Coleman said. “They made an interior attack at first, but had to pull out due to structural concerns.”
Coleman said a collapsing chimney and fire between floors forced crews to transition to a defensive response, while water supply challenges required drafting from a nearby pond.
“We actually ended up drafting out of the lake here at the house,” he said.
He said multiple agencies responded, including Whitesville, Thruston, Yelvington, Utica, Masonville, West and East Daviess County, and St. Joseph fire departments, along with the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, ambulance services, and utility crews.
Coleman said the structure has collapsed into the basement and will likely burn for some time, and a nearby detached garage was also destroyed.
—
A house fire was reported in the 8000 block of Crisp Road near Whitesville, with crews continuing to battle the blaze as of initial reports.
The Daviess County Fire Department confirmed the structure fire and said all occupants have been accounted for, with no injuries or fatalities reported.
Officials said the home is a total loss.
Emergency Management Director Jeremy Smith said the Whitesville Fire Department was first on scene, followed by departments from Thruston, Yelvington, Utica, and Masonville. Both of Daviess County’s staffed fire stations also responded to assist.
Firefighters are actively working to contain the blaze, with reports indicating the fire may be spreading to a nearby structure.
Daviess County Fire Department crews are also backfilling other stations with additional personnel to maintain coverage across the county as the response continues.
