Neighbors recovering after Marion house fire

MARION, Ind. – We’re learning more about two next-door neighbors that are recovering after a house fire in Grant County late Friday night.

Marion Fire Department responded around 11:15 p.m. They believe the cause is electrical.

Kyle Whiteman was watching TV in his home when he heard his neighbor start to scream for help.

He turned to look out the window to find Lewis Bailey’s home across the street ablaze.

That night, Bailey went to feed his animals before bed and said black smoke started rolling out of the vents.

“All I could see in the kitchen was snap, crackle, pop, and then just fully engulfed, fully engulfed,” said Bailey.

Within minutes, Whiteman was over to help.

“I grabbed the keys to my wife’s van and I parked it right over here so that way I could have lights going in, because, I mean, it was dark,” said Whiteman.

However, Bailey, an animal advocate and rescuer, was focused on saving them.

Seven animals survived the fire.

“I just ran in after him,” said Whiteman. “He said grab the cage, grab the cage, I got one of the dogs in the cage out, and I said, come on, we gotta get out of here, and I grabbed him.”

“I threw his butt out, good thing I did, because he would’ve ended up on the floor in there with his heart attack,” said Bailey.

Shortly, after paramedics arrived, they checked out Whiteman for smoke inhalation and realized something much more serious was going on.

He was life-lined to the hospital.

“I got two stents in my heart, 95% blockage,” said Whiteman.  “The paramedics being here is what saved my life.”

Unfortunately, Bailey lost 4 animals in the fire and his home is a total loss.

However, he gained a new friend across the street who will be looking out for him going forward.

“I would expect if my house burnt down or something of that nature, you know, I may be different or something, but I’d do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing,” said Whiteman.

For now, Whiteman is still recovering and Bailey is figuring out where to go next with his animals.

If you are interested in donating to Lewis Bailey, click here . If you are interested in donating to Kyle Whiteman, click here .

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