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PERRY TOWNSHIP -- Multiple fire departments responded to a fire at a Perry Township residence Thursday.
According to the Salem Fire Department's report, the Salem department responded to a structure fire at 419 Benton Road at 12:50 p.m. Thursday to provide automatic aid to the Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department. Due to a lack of available personnel from Perry Township, the Salem Fire Department served as the primary responding agency with automatic aid received from the Perry Township, Green Township, Winona, and Damascus fire departments.
When firefighters arrived, light smoke was visible from the residence's first and second floors and attic areas, and the first-floor windows were ventilated. A water supply was established to Engine 2 by the Damascus and Winona volunteer fire departments, and an attack line was deployed and advanced through the front door.
Crews encountered heavy smoke conditions inside of the residence's first floor, and the seat of the fire was located in the kitchen area and extinguished with the attack line. Once the fire was knocked down, firefighters conducted a primary search of both the first and second floors, with no fire extension nor any occupants located inside the residence. However, a pet lizard was reported to have died in the fire.
After the fire was extinguished, positive pressure ventilation was established to clear smoke from the residence, and f-500 encapsulator agent was utilized in the affected areas to assist with cooling and reduce the potential for rekindling. Ohio Edison and Columbia Gas responded to disconnect electrical and gas service to the residence, and Design Restoration Services boarded the damaged windows to secure the residence.
While the hydrant was being charged, a Damascus firefighter did not see the 5-inch supply moving as it filled with water and the hose "whipped and rolled, taking his feet out from under him and knocking him to the ground." Damascus Fire Chief Justin Thompson was notified of the incident and advised that it would be documented through the department's injury reporting process as appropriate.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau was requested to assist in investigating the origin and cause of the fire, and a joint investigation identified the vicinity of a power strip which had a Keurig coffee maker, a microwave, and an air fryer plugged into it in the kitchen as the area of origin.
The report states that the homeowner told investigators that they had been at the residence at approximately 11 a.m. and made a pot of coffee before leaving, and that "the power strip had a history of tripping and, on occasion, would also trip the associated circuit breaker in the basement."
During the examination, the number two circuit breaker was found to be in the tripped position. However, "it could not be determined whether the ignition source was the power strip, the coffee maker, or another electrical component within that immediate area" and as a result "the cause of the fire remains undetermined, pending any additional examination by the homeowner's insurance investigator or other qualified experts."