SOUTH HAVEN | For the second time in three days firefighters were called to an early morning residential fire caused by a woodburning stove.
Firefighters were called to 753 Baltimore Road at about 1:20 a.m. Sunday after the resident reported his home was on fire.
Fire Chief John Kepshire said flames were visible when he turned from Midway onto Baltimore after the call came in and the rear of the home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.
Homeowner Thomas Mathewson had been watching a movie in his home's living room when he saw a "glow" through sliding glass doors that separated his kitchen from a family room addition at the back of his ranch-style home, Kepshire said. When Mathewson opened the door the rear of the home was fully involved in a fire. Mathewson, his wife and two children, who had been sleeping at the time, escaped unharmed.
Kepshire said South Haven, Portage and Liberty and Union township departments had the fire under control by 2 a.m.
Because of high winds, firefighters also worked to protect a home directly to the north of the Baltimore Road house. Kepshire said that house sustained no damage.
Porter County Fire Investigation Strike Team was called in to investigate the cause. FIST determined that fire was caused by combustible material being placed too close to a woodburning stove located in the rear addition to the home.
Kepshire said the addition was destroyed and while some rooms in the home were untouched by fire, they sustained damage due to roof ventilation and water. He estimated the damage at $75,000 to $80,000 for the structure and contents.
On Friday morning firefighters put out a similar fire started in an addition of a home at 769 Fremont Road. Kepshire said while the cause of that fire is as yet undetermined, indications point to problems with a woodburning stove located in that home's family room addition.
Kepshire said residents who are turning to alternate heating sources such as woodburning stoves need to keep in mind safety measures. They need to be properly installed, cleaned and serviced to prevent problems, he said, adding people also should keep combustible materials away from the stoves.
