COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus firefighters believe an electrical malfunction may have caused a fire at 11:25 p.m. Sunday at 1250 Lafayette Ave.
Firefighters were sent to the residence and arrived within four minutes, where they found fire showing from the home’s roof, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman. Occupants of the home told firefighters that everyone had evacuated.
With visible flames identified along the roof of the home, firefighters deployed a hose line to the front lawn and directed a water stream to flames near a dormer window and roof where the flames were most visible. After knocking down the flames with the initial attack from the exterior, crews entered the home with their hose line and proceeded to the second floor where they reported the absence of smoke or flames. Believing the fire to be in the attic, crews located the attic access door and advanced into the attic space where they fully extinguished the remaining fire.
While investigating the cause, firefighters were told that two of the eight people who lived in the home were sitting on the front porch when they smelled smoke, Wilson said.
Believing that the smoke was possibly from a fire pit located near the area, they dismissed the odor. A short time later both men saw smoke and then witnessed what they described as “fire reflecting on the windows” of a neighboring home. According to their account, both men then walked into the street to look for the source of the fire. After identifying that their residence was on fire, both men returned into the interior of the home to alert the other six tenants, Wilson said.
At that time, all occupants escaped to the exterior of the home. As the investigation continued, it was determined that an electrical panel breaker had tripped prior to the discovery of fire. Occupants reported a loss of power to the second floor of the home as a result of the tripped breaker. With no indication of any fire dangers, the breaker was reset and the power restored.
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, investigators believe the fire was electrical in nature. Damages to the home are estimated at $60,000, Wilson said.
The fire was contained to the attic but water damage was visible on all floors of the home. No injuries were reported during the incident. Due to the damages, the tenants were displaced and are currently receiving assistance from the Salvation Army.
Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service, Columbus City Utilities and Duke Energy.
