ANGOLA, IN (WTVB) – Firefighters battled a destructive residential blaze in frigid conditions Saturday morning at the home of Gregory J. Sanders on 3675 W. Landis Road.
Emergency crews were dispatched at 8:29 a.m. following a 911 call from Sanders, who discovered fire spreading through his attached garage. Upon arrival at 8:38 a.m., units encountered heavy fire involvement and thick smoke throughout the structure.
While Sanders was able to evacuate the home without injury, the fire eventually breached the main living areas. Tragically, fire officials confirmed that two family cats and one dog perished in the blaze. The response required a massive, coordinated effort, involving 44 firefighters from the Angola, Ashley, Metz, and Steuben Township fire departments, alongside support from the Angola Police, Indiana State Police, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, and EMS.
Due to extreme sub-zero temperatures, mutual aid was essential to rotate crews safely and maintain tankers. The fire was brought under control by 9:15 a.m., with utility assistance from NIPSCO and REMC.
Damage to the property is estimated at $310,000, and while the cause remains under investigation, fire investigators are scheduled to return to the scene on Monday to continue the investigation of what sparked the blaze.
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