Fire ravages Elkhart homes

(Click on pictures for larger images.)

[October 22, 2008]  ELKHART -- The quiet, dead-end street known as Elizabeth Court in Elkhart was the scene of personal tragedy late Wednesday morning.

A firestorm swept by strong southwesterly winds caused the total destruction of two homes at 11 and 12 Elizabeth Court.

The high winds caused an intensity to the blaze that could not be stemmed by area firefighters before the homes were completely destroyed.

Fire department units from Elkhart, Middletown, Williamsville and Cornland as well as the Lincoln Rural Fire and Rescue Department responded to the twin blazes.

Although firefighters were still busy arresting the fire in 12 Elizabeth Court and will investigate the cause later, it is initially reported that the blaze started in the garage area of 11 Elizabeth Court and, because of the high winds, immediately caused the home to the north to also catch ablaze.

The garage at 11 Elizabeth was reduced to ashes, with two vehicles in the home's driveway completely destroyed.

Early reports state that both couples were at home at the time of the fire, that there were no injuries and that pets in the homes were saved.

Although this is a personal tragedy to the families in these two homes, firefighters and neighbors remarked that if the fire had begun farther up the street, still more homes would have been lost due to the winds and the homes' proximity to each other.

The two homes that were totally lost were the last two homes on the block before a harvested cornfield. It is unknown what calamity might have occurred in the event a dry, not-yet-harvested crop right next to the homes had still been in the field.

Further information will be reported as it is gathered.

[By MIKE FAK]

Firefighters prepare to enter 12 Elizabeth Court.

One of the vehicles destroyed in the fire.