Electrical issues are suspected in last week’s fire in Sandstone Village that ultimately condemned three homes and damaged a fourth.
On Aug. 26, a house fire broke out at the home of Tony and Megan Ernsberger, 12635 Adirondack Ct. It spread to Linda Davis’s home, 12625 Adirondack Ct., and Robin Griger’s residence, 12645 Adirondack Ct. Fishers Fire Dept. was dispatched at 2:07 p.m.
No civilians were injured in the fires, but two firefighters suffered minor burns. A property damage estimate was not available. Fishers Fire Chief Steve Orusa said the investigation was approaching completion Aug. 29.
The first responders on the scene was a medic team dispatched from Station 92, 11595 Brooks School Rd. Orusa said the medics took the same course of action a ladder truck would have – ensuring life safety – and that the first building could not be saved.
Station 92 was scheduled to close in June for renovation just as FFD’s Station 96 at 104th Street and Florida Road opened, but a pending agreement with the county to build a secondary dispatch at the firehouse delayed the closure.
Orusa said Station 92 was staffed with the only available people he had, the medic unit. Other staff members already moved to Station 96.
“I don’t have enough resources,” Orusa said. “It’s a risk management plan with the cards we’re dealt, and we’re playing catch up.”
He said a backup fire engine is stored at Station 92, although it moves from station to station depending on need.
He could not confirm as of press time if a backup engine was at Station 92 that day, but there would have been no staff for it.
Orusa said he plans to push the governmental bodies to complete an agreement on the new dispatch center holding up work at Station 92.
FFD plans to hire 12 new staff members for Station 92 in January.
(Photo by Dan Domsic)
He said a meeting with the county to try to come to a decision is scheduled for Sept. 12. He hoped the renovations will be completed in the spring.
Town Manager Scott Fadness said the renovation is to cost $1 to 1.2 million, with a secondary dispatch costing $750,000.
In spite of suffering some staffing issues, the medic unit responded in about three minutes to the call, and Engine 95 and a Ladder 91 responded in about five minutes – beating FFD’s national accreditation standard of cover. Orusa said this confirmed that the department’s risk management plans and backup plans regarding which stations serve which districts worked just as they should.
For an account of the fire, including eyewitness experiences, visit youarecurrent.com.