(Lake Park)– There were no injuries, but a considerable amount of property damage was reported in a house fire earlier today (Friday) in Lake Park.
Lake Park Fire Chief Brandon Ehret says firefighters were called to 1003 Lakeside Avenue after getting a report of a house full of smoke and smoke detectors going off. Upon arriving he says firefighters observed smoke coming from the eves and roof vents of the house.
Firefighters encountered heavy smoke throughout the house as they mounted an interior attack.
No fire was found on the main floor, but Ehret says firefighters found a small pile of embers in the basement by a water heater that had been extinguished when some water lines ruptured.
Firefighters then discovered severe damage to a main floor bathroom where the blaze had spread up from the basement through a clothes chute. It’s believed steam from the ruptured water lines extinguished the fire in that area as well.
Ehret says no one was home at the time. He says the family dog was in the house and was rescued by firefighters.
An investigation by the Lake Park Fire Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental. Ehret says it appears some combustibles that were near a water heater ignited.
Damage to the house was estimated at 20-thousand dollars.
Firefighters were called to the scene shortly before 9:00 a.m. They were there a little more than three hours.
The Lake Park Fire Department was assisted by Lake Park Rescue, the Lake Park Police Department, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, Dickinson County Emergency Management and Lake Park Utilities.
