By James B. Bartle
A neighbor heard a loud explosion prior to a home being engulfed in flames on Wednesday night at 11:30 p.m. at 321 Cash St., Sullivan. The home was reportedly vacant at the time and was allegedly previously owned by Amber Burt.
Sullivan firefighters and Sullivan police responded to the home which was fully involved when they arrived on the scene.
“Our firefighters arrived on the scene at 11:40 p.m. and found the home completely involved with fire,” said fire chief Rich White. “We brought the blaze under control at 12:17 a.m. and had assistance from the Bourbon Fire Department and St. Clair Fire Department.”
White stated that firefighters were not only to extinguish the blaze, but contain the fire from spreading to a wooded area where other structures were exposed.
It took 17 firefighters to bring the fire under control.
The Franklin County arson investigator, Jim Schumaker, was called to the fire scene along with Sullivan police detective, Dave Roche.
Authorities did not release a cause of the fire at this time; however, methamphetamine components were found in outbuildings around the home.
“The fire is under investigation and is highly suspicious,” said Schumaker. “There was no power to the home at the time of the fire.”
Authorities stated that they are trying to determine who was the rightful owner of the property at press time and would not speculate on anything further regarding the fire.