Man dies after running back into burning southern Indiana home to save family dog

HENRYVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- A man died Sunday night when, after fleeing a burning home with his wife and three kids, ran back inside to try to save the family dog.

He was identified Monday as 52-year-old Jason Nierman.

The fire started a Sunday evening on Speith Road in Henryville. Around 5:15 p.m., Monroe Township Fire crews responded to the home, and — with the help of crews from Sellersburg and Tri-Township — it took them 40 minutes to get control of the fire.

"We could start feeling the heat about halfway up the driveway, and that was from the back side of the house," said Deputy Chief Alex Johnson with Monroe Township Tire.

What's left, pictured above, is a charred shell of what was a two-story country home. The attached garage is almost entirely destroyed.

"It's awful," said Pam Smith, who lives next door. "It breaks my heart."

Firefighters were able to rescue the dog from the second-floor balcony. But Nierman died sometime after running back inside.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the fire.

This story will be updated.

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