March 4, 2008-It is the year 2008. Some homeowners have fireplaces and wood burning stoves in their house. But that doesn't mean they have installed working smoke detectors. Well, when what apparently was a clogged chimney flue lead to a fire, which then spread to the attic, it almost cost a Newburgh family their lives Tuesday morning. Fortunately, the grandmother was their smoke detector, and she saved her family from what could have easily been a terrible tragedy.

Around 0630 hours the elderly grandmother at 9 Stewart Avenue was awoken and smelled smoke in her house, while the next door neighbor had also seen the flames coming out from the building. The grandmother woke up the rest of her family and they scrambled to get out of the home.

Firefighters from the Goodwill Fire Department were called, and upon Chief Mike Decker's arrival a second alarm was sounded for a working structure fire. An engine from Goodwill arrived and its crew immediately went to work. City of Newburgh Engine 3 soon rolled in lead by Assistant Chief Gary Ferguson. They established a water supply from a nearby hydrant, then their crew opened up the roof to vent the building.

Mutual aid companies from Winona Lake and Cronomer Valley also responded and the fire was declared under control in about 45 minutes. The Vails Gate FAST Team responded to the scene and stood at the ready if needed.

EMS teams were called in from Mobile Life and Town of Newburgh VAC. They treated one firefighter at the scene for smoke and heat. The Red Cross was called to aid this fortunate family whom, although their home was destroyed, they can count their blessings to be alive today.

>> Back to 2008 News <<

Photo and Story by James Bakun