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Residents escape Madison Township home fire

This home on Glasgow Road in Madison Township was destroyed by fire early Saturday. (Salem News photo by Patti Schaeffer)

WEST POINT — An early morning house fire Saturday sent the owner to the hospital with minor injuries and kept firefighters on the scene for several hours.

According to West Point fire Chief Wayne Chamberlain, Robert Smith, 42120 Glasgow Road, was sleeping when he awoke for some reason and discovered the bedroom floor on fire. He woke his wife, whose name was not immediately known by Chamberlain, who ran to the basement to retrieve a fire extinguisher.

In the basement, Mrs. Smith reported, the ceiling overhead was on fire. By the time she got back upstairs with the extinguisher, the flames were so intense they could not re-enter the bedroom and called the fire department at 3:38 a.m., Chamberlain reported.

“It could have been a bad outcome had they not woken up,” Chamberlain said.

Mr. Smith sustained minor burns which Chamberlain said he believes were caused by him attempting to extinguish the fire. He was initially treated at the scene by West Point EMTs and then transported to East Liverpool City Hospital by North Star Critical Care ambulance.

West Point was provided mutual aid by Glenmoor and Highlandtown, both of which sent tankers and additional manpower to the scene.

The fire began in the bedroom and, while the exact cause is not yet known, Chamberlain said he believes it was caused by some type of electrical problem. The house is insured.

The Red Cross was notified and arrived on the scene to assist the Smiths, Chamberlain said.

Firefighters were on the scene until just before 8 a.m.

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