A compost fire in the Wellington North Housing addition caused approximately $300,000 in damges to a Noblesville residence on June 21.
Noblesville Fire Dept. Division Chief Rick Russell said a neighbor, Dawn Marien, and her daughter discovered the fire at 16418 Herriman Blvd. at 11:08 a.m. The two used a garden hose to extinguish the fire at the compost site. They then quickly noticed that the fire had burned through the vented soffit of the home and was burning throughout the attic space. Marien then notified Ray and Monica Bates that their home was on fire.
“At 11:11 a.m., fire suppression crews arrived on the scene noting smoke and flames coming from the roof near the chimney of the home,” Russell said. “An interior attack was made on the fire; however, crews had to be evacuated due to the intensity. Exterior attack lines were deployed at that time.”
Russell said the fire was extinguished an hour later. The fire originated outside the structure at a compost pile. Earlier in the morning, ashes from a cooking smoker used the previous evening were discarded.
On June 24, Noblesville firefighters responded to an institutional alarm at the Prairie Lakes Apartment complex in Noblesville at 8:33 p.m. Fire suppression crews reported nothing showing from the exterior of the structure when they arrived at 8:41 p.m. Once inside, prevention officer Todd Estes said initial crews reported no fire and that the sprinkler system activated due to the high heat levels in the origin of the fire.
“The sprinkler head activation quickly extinguished the fire,” Estes said.
Upon investigation and interviews with the tenant, the fire at 14283 Raven Way Apt. 108 was ruled as accidental. Estes said the fire was caused because a lamp was left in the on position on a bed under a pile of clothes.
“The sprinkler activation in this incident has been credited for saving any further damage to the structure as the fire was contained to the bedroom,” Estes said. “The only tenants displaced were the occupants of this apartment unit. All other occupants were allowed back in their apartment after the sprinkler head was replaced and the system was restored.”
Noblesville was assisted by Fishers Fire Department on this incident.