A home in rural Odin has been destroyed by fire.
Odin Fire Chief Greg Smith says Carla Wasson of 1319 US 50 between Odin and Sandoval woke up to the smell of smoke and was able to get outside where she told a passing motorist her house was on fire.
Smith says the fire appeared to have started at the rear of the home.
“When our first crews arrived on the scene they initially attempted to make an attack going in the front door. They were met with a lot of debris and smoke. Shortly after they made entry is when we had this explosion which at that time pushed the two fireman out of the house. We called for an evacuation, we got all the firemen out and accounted for, regrouped and started to attack again from the outside.”
Smith says the explosion was apparently an oxygen tank. One Salem Firefighter received cuts from broken glass and was treated at Salem Township Hospital for lacerations to his face and hands. The second firefighter, from the Odin Department, had his breath knocked out, but did not require hospital treatment.
Smith says the fire was able to get in between the two roofs of the home where firemen could not reach it. Eventually, the fire burned through but by then the roof was unstable and eventually collapsed into the home. A bull dozer was used to tear down some of the remaining walls to be able to put out the fire. Firemen were able to save an adjoining garage.
Because there was a firefighter injury, the State Fire Marshal’s office was automatically called to investigate. Smith believes the fire may be tied to a space heater and be electrical in nature.
In addition to automatic mutual aid from Salem and Sandoval Fire Departments, Centralia City and Centralia District, Patoka, and Kell were all called to the scene while Iuka stood by at the Odin Fire Station in the event of another fire. United Medical Response and Sandoval Ambulance were also on the scene. Water had to be shuttled to the scene from Odin and a hydrant near Studio 50. Marion County ESDA directed traffic off US 50 around the fire for about five hours. At least one semi overturned off the side of the road and one became stuck on the rural road detours.
The fire call first came in at 9:40 Monday morning. Firemen cleared the scene at three pm.
A backhoe is used to tear down the walls of the home to help put the fire out.
