COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire (CFD) and Police (CPD) Departments were dispatched to 1435 Franklin St. on Friday afternoon after a residential fire was reported to 9-1-1. A neighbor on Lafayette Street made the call and woke the neighbor who was asleep in the house.
CPD arrived first and ensured that anyone inside had escaped. Officers then turned their attention to the fire at the exterior of the rear of the home. They discharged portable fire extinguishers onto flames burning the home’s vinyl siding and wooden deck.
As fire crews made their way to the scene, police reported that the flames had been knocked down. When CFD got there the fire was out. Firefighters noticed smoldering material and light smoke so they removed plywood and inspected the wall’s interior to ensure the blaze had not extended into the home. They also removed a heavily charred portion of the wood deck but no additional fire was found.
Investigators concluded the fire originated near the wood deck and spread to the home’s vinyl siding. The homeowner told CFD that one of the home’s occupants is a smoker and usually smokes in the area where the fire was discovered, but said the person was not home when the fire was reported.
The cause is undetermined at this time and remains under investigation. The fire was contained to the exterior of the home. Damage to the home is estimated at $2000. No injuries were reported.