Deadly House Fire in Vanderburgh Co. Ruled Accidental
By: Shalah Sasse
Updated: March 21, 2012
The McCutchanville Fire Department has confirmed Tuesday's deadly fire that roared through several homes in Vanderburgh County has been ruled accidental. However, officials say the cause is still unknown. The coroner released the name of the victim, he's 81-year-old Donald Lambert. Fire investigators say the fire started in Lambert's home in the 700 block of Strawberry Hill Road in northern Vanderburgh County.
Lambert's family says he lost his wife two months ago and was grieving. Now they are grieving all over again.
It was a fireball that went through house after house. That's how neighbors on Strawberry Hill Road describe Tuesday night's fire.
"It was just too involved, too fast. The flames were shooting 40 feet into the sky by that time, it was just, literally erupting," Brad Martin said.
Brad Martin lives across the street. He says he and several neighbors ran to Don Lambert's home and tried to break in to save him, but the flames and smoke were unbearable. Lambert died and was found inside the garage.
"And at that point it was so hot that we had to back away from it and try to go to the next house and get the next folks out, that live next to them," Martin said.
The McCutchanville Fire Department says when fire crews arrived at the scene two homes were fully engulfed and flames were rapidly spreading to neighboring homes. Investigators say the fire started two gas leaks. At least seven homes were damaged by this fire.
"It's a horrible feeling and you hope, we hoped that he was gone with someone out to eat and they picked him up and we hoped for that, and we pretty much kind a knew that chances of that were kinda slim," Wanda Lambert said.
Lambert's daughter in law, Wanda says he loved his family, was a former barber, and made jewelry. She says he saved some jewelry to give to his great grand-daughter.
"He gave me a bag of stone necklaces for her and he said I want you to hold on to these until she's old enough to wear them," Lambert said.
On Wednesday, Lambert's family brought a home-made wooden cross and placed it in front of the home. Meanwhile, the cause of death has not been released.
Lambert's family says he lost his wife two months ago and was grieving. Now they are grieving all over again.
It was a fireball that went through house after house. That's how neighbors on Strawberry Hill Road describe Tuesday night's fire.
"It was just too involved, too fast. The flames were shooting 40 feet into the sky by that time, it was just, literally erupting," Brad Martin said.
Brad Martin lives across the street. He says he and several neighbors ran to Don Lambert's home and tried to break in to save him, but the flames and smoke were unbearable. Lambert died and was found inside the garage.
"And at that point it was so hot that we had to back away from it and try to go to the next house and get the next folks out, that live next to them," Martin said.
The McCutchanville Fire Department says when fire crews arrived at the scene two homes were fully engulfed and flames were rapidly spreading to neighboring homes. Investigators say the fire started two gas leaks. At least seven homes were damaged by this fire.
"It's a horrible feeling and you hope, we hoped that he was gone with someone out to eat and they picked him up and we hoped for that, and we pretty much kind a knew that chances of that were kinda slim," Wanda Lambert said.
Lambert's daughter in law, Wanda says he loved his family, was a former barber, and made jewelry. She says he saved some jewelry to give to his great grand-daughter.
"He gave me a bag of stone necklaces for her and he said I want you to hold on to these until she's old enough to wear them," Lambert said.
On Wednesday, Lambert's family brought a home-made wooden cross and placed it in front of the home. Meanwhile, the cause of death has not been released.
