House in Washington County damaged after space heaters result in flames
A house fire that began with overheated space heaters has left a couple without a home for the holiday weekend.
The homeowner said the fire began after they tried to thaw out their pipes with a space heater in the home’s basement.
Aaron Benney, assistant chief of the Monongahela fire department said the electricity used to power the space heaters can lead to fires.
“Heaters like that are pulling a lot of current through the electrical system and the wires get heated up,” said Benney.
In the case of the fire on Ridge Avenue, the wires heated up, melted and started the fire. The flames spread through the wall and scorched the inside and outside of the house. It shot out of the window from the first to the second floor.
Firefighters listed a few different solutions for families with frozen pipes, to help them avoid similar dangers.
“The best thing to do in this cold weather is just to let your faucets drip. If you have to do something that has heat on your pipes, it’s best to use like a blow dryer on low setting,” said Benney.
Firefighters faced challenges battling the blaze in frigid temperatures. The extreme cold caused a hose to freeze. A heat source was brought in to keep the crews warm.
“The one neighboring department that responded with us, they have a big commercial-size torpedo heater,” said Benney.
The homeowner made it out of the house with her fiance, along with their dog and cat. Five of their other cats did not survive.
“When I talked to the homeowners, I expressed my condolences for them going through this at this time of year. You know, I feel horrible,” said Benney.
The homeowners are staying in a hotel for the time being but the Red Cross is helping them.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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