Photo by RR Best
Fire Destroys Rural Home
Fire destroyed the Matt Knight home in rural Bethany Sunday, Feb. 26 with Findlay firefighters the first to respond to a blaze which required assistance from six additional departments. Findlay Fire Chief Ed Voltenburg said the call came into the department at 5:30 p.m. from the Knight’s daughter Baylee who was home.“The daughter was upstairs and said she heard what she thought was hail,” Voltenburg explained. “When she got downstairs, the front entry was on fire.” The chief explained Baylee gathered the family pets and escaped the burning house and made the 911 call. Her parents were at a movie in Decatur when the fire occurred and returned to the scene as firefighters battled the blaze. Voltenburg extended thanks to responding departments from Bethany, Sullivan, Assumption, Moweaqua, Shelbyville and Strasburg. The chief noted the investigation into the cause of the fire is incomplete with the house a total loss. Firefighters were on scene for five hours. The fire damage was primarily to the second floor and roof with the first floor damaged mostly by water and smoke. Red Cross was called to assist the family who lost most of their clothing and personal belongings in the blaze. Red Cross offered temporary assistance. A clothing collection effort is underway.
He noted that while the department was fighting the Knight blaze, a brush fire was reported in the Johnson bottoms area which required diverting some firefighters.