Fire damages rental home in city Sunday
The state police fire marshal is investigating a Sunday morning blaze that damaged a rental home in the 100 block of West Brady Street.
Three children and a grandchild visiting the tenant managed to escape uninjured when they discovered the fire about 10 a.m., authorities said.
Capt. Kevin McAfee of the Butler Fire Department said it appeared the fire started in the kitchen “in or around the stove” and it was not believed to be suspicious.
A telephone call to the investigating deputy fire marshal was not returned Sunday.
Victor Fagan, who lives alone at the two-story house across from Friedman's supermarket, had been cooking at the stove earlier that morning. His three daughters and a grandchild, all visiting from out of town, were apparently sleeping.
“One of the daughters awakened and got everyone out,” McAfee said.
There was a smoke detector in the house but it was not working. Fire officials did not know whether it had a battery that had worn out or was removed.
Firefighters quickly brought a hose line through the front door and attacked the fire. A second hose line was used in back of the house, where the kitchen is, McAfee said.
The VA Butler Healthcare Fire Department's rapid intervention team and Meridian volunteer firefighters also were called to assist,
The blaze was contained relatively quickly but not before causing heavy fire damage to the first floor, primarily the kitchen and front hallway.
“There was a lot of heat in there,” McAfee said.
The upstairs also sustained heavy smoke damage.
McAfee estimated damage at $45,000 to the structure and another $25,000 to the contents.
Authorities said Fagan did not have renter's insurance. Fire officials could not immediately reach the home's owner, Jason Gadsby.
“It's fixable,” McAfee said of the house. “It's not a total loss.”
The Butler chapter of the American Red Cross also was notified to help Fagan with any emergency needs.
