COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus firefighters are crediting a neighbor for his role in the fast activation of the 9-1-1 system, an act that firefighters say attributed to limiting further damage to a Columbus home.
At approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday, Columbus firefighters were called to 262 Weid Court for a report of a residential fire after a neighbor at 261 Weid Ct. saw smoke and flames inside a neighbor’s home, said Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department spokesman.
Fire investigators on the scene spoke with the caller, who reported seeing what the caller initially believed to be dust around the residence. The 9-1-1 caller said that he was aware that tree trimming and lawn care activities were ongoing within the neighborhood, and the caller said he attributed the sighting of a “cloud” to these activities. Within minutes, the neighbor identified that the “cloud” appeared to change, which prompted the neighbor to take a closer look. Upon closer investigation, the neighbor identified the presence of smoke and flames within the home and quickly called 9-1-1.
Columbus Fire Engine Company 3 arrived within minutes of the call and reported a working residential fire with heavy smoke exiting from the front of the residence, Wilson said. With no vehicles in the home’s driveway, firefighters were unaware if the residence was occupied. After completing a walk-around assessment of the home, firefighters reported that they would be forcing entry into the home.
Crews forced their way into the front of the home where they located a fire in the home’s living room. As additional firefighters began to arrive on the scene, Engine Company 3 attacked the flames. Additional crews entered the smoke-filled home to complete a search of the home, which revealed that the home was unoccupied. Firefighters marked the fire under control within five minutes of arrival. Firefighters confined the fire to the living room of the home.
With the fire under control, additional teams of firefighters continued to work in the home to locate and hidden areas of fire and ventilate smoke from the home. Investigators learned from the neighbor that the occupant of the home appeared to have left the residence prior to the discovery of fire. A family member of the property owner arrived on the scene and advised firefighters that the owner was likely at a scheduled appointment, Wilson said. Firefighters later confirmed that the property owner was away from the home at the time the fire occurred.
Engine Company 3 Lt. Don Richards said that the early discovery of the fire by a neighbor was a key in preventing additional fire damage. “Fire grows at an extremely rapid rate, so any factors that increase our ability to get to the scene as early as possible during the fire, significantly improves the overall outcome in terms of both property conservation and rescue efforts”, said Richards.
The cause of the fire in under investigation. Fire damage to the home was isolated to the living room, while smoke damage was present throughout the home. Due to the damage caused by the fire, the home is currently inhabitable. Damage to the home and contents is estimated at $ 50,000. No injuries were reported at the scene.
Agencies that provided assistance at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Health Emergency Medical Services, Duke Energy and Columbus City Utilities.
