Weekend fire damages recovery home in North Vernon

A recovery home in North Vernon was seriously damaged in a fire Saturday night.

According to the North Vernon Fire Department, firefighters were called to the Potter’s House in the 500 block of Fourth Street at about 8:20 p.m. Saturday night to find heavy flames coming from windows on the north side of the building. Entering through the back door, firefighters were able to get the fire under control.

Fire Chief Michael Cole said that the bedroom side of the structure was heavily damaged, but the kitchen, living room and office space were all spared. However smoke damage has made the building uninhabitable.

Firefighters were told that everyone had evacuated the building, before they arrived on scene.

The fire is currently still under investigation. The North Vernon Fire Department will be assisted by the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office to try to determine a cause and origin of the fire.

Also assisting at the scene were volunteer firefighters from, Vernon, Geneva, Campbell and Spencer Townships, North Vernon police and Jennings County deputies, Jennings County medics, Duke Energy, Jennings County Emergency Management Agency and Center Township Trustee’s Office.