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Blaze damages Fort Scott home; no one injured
FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Local fire officials have determined the cause of a house fire Friday morning on the east side of town to be a power strip and cord.
Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou said there was no one inside the home at 10 S. Barbee, and there were no injuries as a result of the blaze, which started shortly after 8 a.m. Friday. Ballou said following an investigation, fire officials have labeled the cause as a "power strip cord overload."
"It was mainly a two-room fire and it got into the attic area of the house," he said.
Ballou said the fire consisted of some flames but was "pretty much heavy smoke."
The home is occupied, but there was no one inside at the time of the fire, Ballou said.
"They all left for the day, was my understanding," he said.
Ballou said the Fort Scott Fire Department responded to the fire with a total of three pumper trucks, a couple of staff vehicles and 10 fire personnel. He said there was no need to call for mutual aid.
Some neighbors watched as firefighters entered the house to contain the fire. It took firefighters about 45 minutes to get the fire under control. Some personnel were on scene afterward cleaning up the scene, putting up equipment and taking photographs of the house for the department's files, Ballou said.
The house sustained fire damage to the kitchen area, bedroom, some of the attic area, and the roof, Ballou said. He said it has not been determined if the house is a total loss.
"We're still assessing smoke damage," he said. "It was pretty heavily damaged in two rooms and the attic and roof area."
Ballou said city codes personnel will inspect the house to determine whether it is suitable for living. Officials are also trying to determine an exact dollar amount of damage.
The home was insured and an insurance adjuster will be coming in to look at the damage.