Tribune staff reports

The cause of a New Year’s Eve fire that left a rural Seymour family of four homeless remains under investigation.

No one was injured in the blaze. The fire was reported at 4:44 p.m. Wednesday by a family member at the home of Jerry and Robin Walls, 3523 E. County Road 1050N in Hamilton Township.

Hamilton Township Fire Chief Donald Schnitker said Thursday that he was on his way back to the scene to see if there was more to be found in daylight.

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He said the structure was a combination work area and tool shed with living quarters. The tires on a couple of pieces of equipment made the fire in the structure a little harder to fight.

Schnitker said the family was in the living room watching television when they noticed the fire in the work area and evacuated the residence.

“It didn’t take long for it to go after that,” he said.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross was called to the scene and put the family up for the night, said Amanda Blackburn, disaster specialist for the American Red Cross district.

“I’m going to meet with them today; and if they need more help, we will help them get it,” she said.

Schnitker said firefighters from Redding and Pershing townships assisted in fighting the fire.

“We were able to get them out of there earlier, but we were there until sometime after 7 p.m.,” Schnitker said.

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To help a Seymour family displaced by a New Year’s Eve fire, call 812-523-8888.

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