A Whiteland home was destroyed in a fire early Monday morning, and investigators suspect a cigarette sparked the blaze.
Fire officials have declared the home in the Springhill neighborhood, located off U.S. 31, south of Whiteland Road, to be a total loss.
Four adults and one child were home when the fire started, and all of them made it out safely, Whiteland Fire Chief David Gabbard said.
The fire started just before 1 a.m. in the garage of a home in the 500 block of Greensprings Drive.
Within 10 minutes of the 911 call, firefighters from the Whiteland Fire Department were there, and the flames had spread and were engulfing the home, Gabbard said.
Neighbors reported hearing loud booms, which was the sound of tires on the cars in the driveway exploding. A gas tank in the garage also exploded, Gabbard said.
Fire officials are investigating, and suspect the fire may have been caused by an improperly discarded cigarette, Gabbard said. The Whiteland Fire Department had previously been to the house for a small fire in the garage, Gabbard said.
Both cars are totaled and the home was destroyed, Gabbard said. The family is staying with relatives, Gabbard said.
The fire was unintentional, Gabbard said. He plans to get more information when he meets with the family and interviews them about what they were doing Sunday during the day and evening, Gabbard said.
Greenwood, New Whiteland, Franklin and Bargersville fire departments all helped put out the flames. The fire was under control within about 20 minutes and was out within about an hour, Gabbard said.
