VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Update: The Prairieton Firefighter who passed away on the scene of a residential fire on Thursday evening has been identified.
According to a post from the Prairieton Fire Department, David Phelps reportedly died of a heart attack.
Phelps has served as a firefighter for over 59 years and was named the 2023 Indiana Volunteer Firefighter of the Year by the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association.
Phleps is survived by his wife and two children, one of whom is a firefighter with the Terre Haute Fire Department.
Original: A Firefighter has died after, fire crews responded to a fire at a home on South Power Place in southern Vigo County Thursday night.
That’s according to the Prairieton Fire Department’s Facebook page.
Prairieton Fire Department Deputy Chief Larry Dempsey says, while at the scene, a firefighter with his department had to be taken to Regional Hospital.

The homeowners told WTWO’s Zach Stidham, everyone made it out of the home safely.
There’s no word yet on the cause of the fire.
We will continue to update this story as information becomes available.