NORTH VERNON, Ind. – The North Vernon Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to a house fire at 10 Noon Dr., at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday. The home was unoccupied and was not being lived in at the time of the fire.
After the blaze was extinguished, officers and firefighters began an investigation that initially pointed to arson. Evidence and vandalism in the home indicated that the fire was intentionally set.
Fewer than 12 hours later and less than one block away at about 4:10 p.m., both the fire and police departments were called to a structure fire at 555 Brownstown Rd. Upon arriving, they found a ground-level apartment facing Brownstown Road that was filled with black smoke.
The apartment with the smoke and fire was unoccupied. All other residents of the apartment building were evacuated. Fire crews worked to quickly put out the flames and fumigate the building. Evidence inside the apartment and statements of neighbors led to another arson investigation.
No injuries or other medical issues were reported throughout both incidents and investigations.
Similarities were observed in both locations, however, information obtained from both indicates the possibility that the two fires might not be connected.
At this time, both investigations by the Indiana State Fire Marshall’s Office and the North Vernon Fire Department are ongoing. All possibilities are being considered in both cases.
Anyone with any information is highly encouraged to report it to the North Vernon Police Department, Indiana State Fire Marshall’s Office, or North Vernon Fire Department. All tips and information can be reported anonymously.
Contact Sgt. Isaac Barkes, Public Information Officer at the North Vernon Police Department by emailing him at ibarkes@nvpd.org or calling 812-346-1466.
