UTICA — Fire around a chimney caused by a wood burning stove heavily damaged a home at 18572 Arrington Road on Tuesday afternoon. A neighbor spotted the fire at 3:47 p.m. Utica Fire Chief Rick Wray said when they arrived at the Kenneth and Charlene Beightol home, fire was through the roof around the chimney.
They were able to quickly knock down the fire but spent nearly three hours cutting holes in the roof and tearing off siding searching out fire in walls and ceiling. Most damaged by the fire, Wray said, were a bedroom and bathroom, and there was heavy smoke damage throughout the house.
The Utica Fire Department had mutual aid of fire truck and tankers from Bladensburg, Homer, Mount Vernon and Danville. Newton Township in Licking County sent its wagon to recharge firemen’s air bottles. About 40 firefighters fought the fire in 33-degree cold and rain. Wray said they secured the fire at 6:45 p.m.
