Fire Destroys Historic Structure in Edgewood

(NOT MUCH IS LEFT OF THE FULK HOUSE IN EDGEWOOD THAT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE TODAY)

A house that the owner says pre-dated the Civil War was destroyed by fire in Edgewood today.

Firefighters were called shortly after noon to a home owned by Jeff and Scott Deunk at the corner of Ash and Kentucky on the east side of town. The Deunks had been burning some brush east of the house, but the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Scott Deunk said he was inside the house when he spotted a small fire in the insulation and tried to extinguish it, but was unsuccessful. Edgewood, Farina and Watson firefighters responded to the call, but the fire was well underway by the time they could reach the scene. Neighboring structures were not damaged by the fire.

The home was currently unoccupied, but remodeling was underway to make it ready for use. Jeff Deunk said they were probably two days from having the exterior work completed, and said they had the materials to complete the interior inside the house.

(THE FRONT PORCH OF THE HOUSE IS ALL THAT REMAINS STANDING)

Jeff Deunk said this is the third fire in the home since he purchased it in 2001. The last fire was about eight years ago. The rebuild had begun and then Jeff Deunk fell ill.

Jeff Deunk said the home was built in the 1850s for Dr. Fulk and was one of the first homes in town.

No one was injured.