OOLITIC — A porch fire on Lafayette Avenue in Oolitic escalated into a major emergency Monday night, consuming two homes and damaging a third before a massive multi-agency response brought the flames under control.
According to the Oolitic Fire Department, the fire originated on the back porch of a home on Lafayette Avenue, located between 4th and 5th Streets. Flames quickly spread into the main residence, prompting arriving crews to immediately call for mutual aid. The fire then extended through an attached carport to a neighboring house, while radiant heat caused exterior damage to a third structure.
One of the affected homes was unoccupied at the time, and officials confirmed that no injuries were reported. A Lifeline Ambulance crew remained on standby at the scene throughout the operation. The American Red Cross is currently providing assistance to the displaced homeowners.
Massive Mutual Aid Operations
The severity of the fire required assistance from every fire department in Lawrence County, along with regional support from the Monroe Fire Protection District.
In addition to the Oolitic Fire Department, responding fire agencies included:
- Marion Township Fire Department
- Marshall Township Volunteer Fire Department
- Indian Creek Volunteer Fire Department
- Shawswick Township Volunteer Fire Department
- Pleasant Run Volunteer Fire Department
- Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department
- Monroe Fire Protection District
Support agencies on scene included the Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) — with special assistance noted from EMA’s Val — as well as Duke Energy.
The Oolitic Marshal’s Office and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department managed scene safety, traffic, and crowd control. Fire officials commended Lawrence County Dispatch for their coordination in dispatching and managing emergency personnel during the incident.
Community Support and Investigation
Local businesses and community members stepped up to support first responders at the scene. Krystal Shetler with ServPro provided sandwiches, water, and chips for the firefighters, while local residents Carol Franklin and Tangie Franklin brought additional snacks and beverages.
The exact cause of the initial porch ignition remains undetermined. The Indiana State Fire Marshal is conducting an investigation to pinpoint how the blaze started.
