COLUMBUS, Ind. – A Columbus home sustained fire damage Monday, June 30 after the owner of the home used a liquid propane heater inside the residence in an effort to remove bugs from the home.
At approximately 3:36 PM Columbus Firefighters were called to the 2900 block of Streamside Dr. after the homeowner returned to his residence and found smoke inside the home. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they reported light smoke visible from the exterior of the residence. The occupants of the home had evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters and were uninjured.
A fire attack team entered the home and encountered smoke banking down from the ceiling to approximately four feet from the floor. As the interior fire attack team pushed further into the home to identify the location of the fire, additional firefighters on the exterior of the home accessed the roof to create a ventilation opening to expel smoke from the residence. The fire attack team found a closed bedroom door and noticed that a liquid propane tank was sitting outside the room with a supply hose leading under the closed bedroom door. With limited visibility, one of the firefighters used a gloved hand to determine if the propane tank was in the open position. Finding that that tank was open, the firefighter closed the valve and the attack team prepared to open the closed door. With a fire attack hose line ready, firefighters opened the door and applied water to smoke filled bedroom. Inside the room, firefighters found burning clothing and paper products near a portable propane heater.
The owner of the home told firefighters that he was using the heater in an effort to kill bugs in the bedroom. The homeowner told fire investigators that he had started the heater and then left the home for an undisclosed amount of time. The owner said that when he returned to the home, he noticed an odor of smoke when he entered the garage and then saw smoke upon entering the living space.
Investigators have ruled the fire as accidental as a result of a heat source used in close proximity to combustible materials. Due to the damage, the home is currently uninhabitable. The American Red Cross is assisting the family with emergency services at this time.