Decomposing grass clippings inside a lawn mower are to blame for a house fire this week in the Wakefield subdivision near State Road 37 and Smith Valley Road in Greenwood, fire officials said.
The fire started about 6 a.m. Thursday in the attached garage of the house at 216 Haywood Road.
Investigators believe heat from the decomposing grass ignited gas fumes in the garage. White River Township and Bargersville fire crews were able to get the fire out before it spread inside the house.
Two adults and a child were home at the time, but were able to get out safely. Fire officials said because the homeowners did not open the door to the garage, damage was contained mostly to that area. The inside of the house had minor smoke and water damage, White River Township Fire Chief Jeremy Pell said.
The fire provided a lesson about keeping doors closed during fires, officials said.
"That is often key to the amount of damage a fire does to a house. The biggest thing that I’ve seen is closing those doors and keeping that fire contained gives us time to get there and will often save your belongings," Pell said.
