(La Porte, IN) - A house was heavily damaged by fire this morning in La Porte.

 

Firefighters just after 5 a.m. were called to 508 W. 11 St. near Handley Elementary School.

 

 

 

 

 

La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said nobody was living in the home being renovated after a fire about two years ago.

 

He said the flames were in the process of engulfing one side of the two story structure when firefighters arrived within minutes after the call.

 

“Crews found fire through the entire east side of the structure.  There was fire through the roof at the time,” he said.

 

The fire also burned a large hole through one side of the exterior.

 

Flames shooting from the hole generated enough heat to melt the vinyl siding on one side of a house next door.

 

There were no injuries.

 

Snyder said the owner of the fire damaged dwelling was there earlier in the morning but had left for work prior to a neighbor discovering the blaze.

 

He said there was no natural gas or electrical service at the house since it was not being lived in during the ongoing renovation.

 

The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting in trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

 

Snyder said a curling iron left on was believed to be the cause of the previous fire at the house.