Staff Reports
A smoke alarm alerted a family of a fire in their home at 647 Hutchins Ave. at 5:21 a.m. Sunday.
Columbus firefighters found fire and smoke coming from the rear of the home when they arrived, said Columbus Fire Department spokesman Mike Wilson.
The occupant of the home, Jennifer Carlisle, said that she was alerted to the fire after hearing a smoke alarm sounding. Carlisle told investigators that she was sleeping in her bedroom when the alarm woke her.
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Carlisle told firefighters she went to find her two children, a son, 13, and a daughter, 8. Carlisle said she found both children and all three quickly escaped the home and called 9-1-1.
From the exterior of the home, firefighters stretched a fire hose to the window and significantly knocked down the flames. With high heat and heavy smoke conditions remaining on the interior, a search crew entered the front of the residence to confirm the home was free of occupants, Wilson said.
Additionally, an interior fire suppression team entered the home from the rear door of the residence. As firefighters worked on the interior of the home, a ventilation crew was sent to the roof to cut a vent hole to allow the escape of super-heated gases and smoke from the interior.
The interior fire attack crew arrived at a rear bedroom where they found additional flames, Wilson said. After fully extinguishing the fire in the bedroom, they searched for any further extension. Firefighters found additional flames in a small bathroom and quickly extinguished the remaining fire. Firefighters searched the basement level and found it free of fire.
Fire damage to the bedroom and bathroom were extensive, Wilson said. Damages to the exterior siding in the area of the bedroom were also reported. Smoke damage was seen throughout the home.
Damages are estimated at $40,000 from building and contents. The Carlisle family is displaced from the rental home and has made lodging arraignments.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, Wilson said.
Agencies that assisted at the scene include Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Health EMS, Columbus City Utilities, Vectren Energy and Duke Energy.
