COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus firefighters are investigating the cause of an early morning residential fire on Hutchins Avenue.
At about 4 a.m., firefighters responded to a report of a home on fire in the 700 block of Hutchins Avenue. The homeowner called 9-1-1 after being awakened by a “strange noise” and seeing the glow of flames coming through a window. When firefighters arrived at the home, they found heavy fire in an efficiency apartment located at the rear of the home. Columbus police at the scene made contact with the homeowner who advised officers that no other occupants were inside the residence, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.
While firefighters worked to put out the fire at the rear of the home, additional firefighters searched the interior of the main house, determining that no occupants were inside.
At the rear of the home, crews applied water to the approximately 400-square-foot apartment for roughly 20 minutes before the fire was marked under control. The fire caused heavy damage to the apartment portion of the structure. While the apartment was attached to the home, the apartment was accessible from an exterior entrance.
The heat from the fire melted the home’s vinyl siding and the electric utility meter located at the rear of the home. The efforts of firefighters prevented the fire from extending into the home. The interior of the home did sustain minor water and smoke damage. The apartment portion of the property sustained heavy fire damage which included damage to the building’s structural components. Damage to the property is estimated at $45,000.
Fire investigators spoke to the homeowner and learned that the apartment was recently vacated. The homeowner told investigators that both the power and water utilities to the apartment were disconnected. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported at the scene. Due to the damage to the home’s electrical service, the homeowner will be temporarily displaced until utility repairs are completed. The Salvation Army is providing emergency shelter assistance to the homeowner.
Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Health Emergency Medical Service, Columbus City Utilities, Duke Energy, and CenterPoint Energy.
