(Ripley County, IN) – A working smoke detector is being credited with saving the occupant of a burning residence on County Road 800 South near 60 West in Ripley County early Wednesday morning.
Crews from the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department and Versailles Fire Rescue arriving on the scene around 1:19 a.m. found the structure was fully engulfed and had collapsed.
A nearby three-car garage and a pickup truck sustained minor damage due to the intense heat. The occupant was awakened by a smoke detector and was able to safely escape from the burning house.
The structure and its contents are a total loss, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The person who was displaced by the fire is staying with family.
About 18,000 gallons of water was used to put out the flames.
Also responding to the scene were Ripley County Sheriff’s deputies and Ripley County EMS.
