DECATUR TOWNSHIP - A fire Saturday evening destroyed a Decatur Township residence.

A log house belonging to the Randy Depriest family apparently caught fire just before 8 p.m.

Randy Depriest Jr. was at home at the time of the fire but escaped safely, according to Elizabeth Township Fire Chief Dale Waugh, whose department was first on scene.

"It started in the attic," Waugh said. "He said he was asleep and the smoke alarm woke him up. He saw smoke in the house and got to checking and the ceiling started to fall in and he saw flames and stuff in the attic."

Waugh said one Elizabeth Township firefighter, Randy Joseph, was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by Elizabeth Township first responders and then by SEOEMS. The house was a total loss.

Elizabeth and Decatur firefighters were on the scene approximately three hours, as was American Red Cross Lawrence County Coordinator Annabelle Jenkins. A total of eight trucks and 10 firefighters responded to the call.

Decatur Fire Department was called back to the scene later in the evening to respond to a rekindle.