fire in Winfield

ONLINE UPDATE - Fire officials: Historic home 'a total loss' after fire
Fire marshal estimates loss at $350-400,000.

By TYLER GASKILL
Reporter

UPDATE-5 p.m. 3/15/09: Fire officials are calling the home at 1306 Loomis "a total loss" after an early morning fire ripped through the historic house Sunday.

Fire investigators remained on scene late Sunday afternoon, digging through the remains of the home, hoping to find clues to what started the blaze. The source of the fire has yet to be determined, Winfield Fire Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Alan Stoll said.

According to Stoll, the value of the home and contents is estimated at $350-400,000.

"The home is an antique in itself," Stoll said of the Victorian style home built in 1885.

"They also had several antiques inside the home that were destroyed by the fire."

The homeowners, Richard and Anne Rising, are returning to Winfield from Florida, where they have been vacationing since December, according to their relatives.

The Risings were delayed in their return home when they had a flat tire early on in their trip back to Winfield, according to a neighbor. They have since made it back on the road, he said.

A nearby garage fire was reported around 9 a.m. as firefighters continued to investigate the house fire. That fire, Stoll said, was determined to be set intentionally, and a suspect has been identified.

Stoll does not believe the two fires are related in any way, he said.