COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) was dispatched to 611 N. Cherry Street on Tuesday, at around 12:15 a.m. after a report of a residential fire. Firefighters arrived and noticed light smoke coming from a single-family home. The Columbus Police Department, who got there a few minutes earlier, said that a small kitchen blaze had been extinguished by officers and all occupants were already out of the house.
Fire crews entered the smoke-filled home and determined that the fire was out and confirmed no occupants remained inside. Cassandra Hagan, the renter, told CFD that she and her two children were in the living room when she smelled smoke. She went into the kitchen and found a small fire near a power strip. After trying to extinguish it, Hagan said the flames grew, so she took her children outside and called 9-1-1.
Firefighters said that an electrical power strip showed signs of heavy fire damage. They found that the power strip was powered by an extension cord connected to a wall receptacle outlet. Several kitchen appliances were plugged into the power strip. Investigators believe that a short circuit of the power strip cause an electrical fire that extended up the kitchen wall and left smoke throughout the house.
No working smoke alarms were found at the residence. No injuries were reported. Damage from the fire is estimated at $3000. The American Red Cross is assisting the family with emergency shelter.