A fire which began in a camper spread to the home at 700 Woodlawn Ave. on Saturday, partially damaging the residence, the Porter Fire Department said.

No one was injured in the fire, which remains under investigation.

Firefighters were dispatched to the home at 3:33 p.m., Fire Chief Lewis Craig told the Chesterton Tribune this morning. On his arrival at the scene, he said, Craig had doubts about the reliability of hydrants in the area—owing to an ongoing Indiana-American Water Company project on Woodlawn Ave.—and promptly implemented a tanker plan.

The Chesterton, Burns Harbor, Liberty, Beverly Shores, and Portage departments all responded with manpower and tankers. Porter hospital EMS was at the scene, and police officers from the Porter and Chesterton departments provided traffic control.

The fire evidently began in a camper shell on stilts located on the west side of the home, which was unoccupied at the time. It then spread to the house itself and damaged some siding, shingles, and part of the roof, Craig said.

Craig estimated damage to the camper at $800 and its contents at $1,000, and damage to the house itself at around $15,000. All units cleared the scene at 6:03 p.m.

The Porter County Fire Investigation Strike Team is investigating the blaze.

Posted 11/3/2008