(La Porte, IN) - The cause of a house fire in La Porte last week appears to have been electrical in nature.

 

Heavy smoke was coming from the structure when firefighters arrived at the house Wednesday afternoon in the 400 block of Marquette Street. Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the house had been vacant for several months, but still had electrical service. He said notice had also been previously given to the property owner that it possibly was going to be condemned “because of it being vacant for so long and the disrepair the structure was in.”

 

The fire was ultimately brought under control in less than 15 minutes. Fire damage was not major but the structure might have to be torn down given the poor condition it was in prior to the fire.

 

“It’ll be questionable whether it will be able to be repaired or not,” he said.

 

Snyder said neighbors reported people were going in and out of the house at different times of the day on a number of occasions while it was vacant.

 

He said the electrical source of the fire was still being looked into but nothing suspicious in nature about the fire has turned up, so far, in the ongoing investigation.