Family not home at the time
A house fire that began on the first floor of a two-story house happened around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at 105 Cleveland St., according to Butler City Fire Capt. Kevin McAfee.
“I'm not sure how it started,” McAfee said. “It looks like it was mostly in the kitchen area.”
Four adults and one infant live at the residence. They were not home at the time of the fire. McAfee said the fire does not look suspicious, but the cause is undetermined.
A dog was in the house at the time of the fire.
McAfee said a man who lives at the residence, whose name was not available, arrived at the house in response to the fire but could not get inside because he did not have a key.
The man's wife arrived and opened the door, and, with the help of the homeowners, firefighters were able to get the dog out of the house. The dog was not injured.
The fire was mostly contained to the kitchen area of the first floor, though there was smoke and heat damage to the second floor.
A neighbor, who wished to remained unidentified, said he saw flames shooting out of a first floor window.
Firefighters extinguished the fire within 20 minutes using compressed-air foam, and then searched the entire residence for any extension of the fire.
Positive pressure ventilation fans also were used to clear smoke so the firefighters had better visibility. No emergency responders were injured.
The Butler City Fire Department, Meridian Fire Department, Butler Township Fire District 3, Butler Ambulance Service, VA Fire Department and the Butler City police were on scene.
McAfee said the American Red Cross was notified to aid the family.
He estimated that $25,000 worth of damage was done to the house itself and another $20,000 of damage to its contents.
