A house fire near Palestine Lake Saturday night caused about $50,000 in damage to the structure and its contents.
Burket Fire Chief Kevin McSherry said his department responded to the call at 8:43 p.m. and found the house at the 4000 block of S. Scott Road, near the southeast corner of the lake, engulfed in flames. He said the fire appears to have started on the south side of the house.
Fire crews from Burket and Mentone, as well as a tanker assist from Claypool, were on the scene about three hours Saturday night. McSherry and others returned for another two hours Sunday afternoon to put out hot spots.
He said the fire remains under investigation.
McSherry said the owner of the home, according to Kosciusko County records, is Connie Hobbs, but as of today nobody had stepped up to claim occupancy of the house.
McSherry said there was gas and electrical service to the house, and food in the refrigerator, suggesting somebody lived there.
