MOUNT VERNON — Close to 30 firefighters from five departments responded to an overnight house fire at 10129 Pleasant Valley Road. The three bedroom manufactured home was already engulfed in flames when the first fire trucks arrived from Central Ohio Joint Fire District around 11:30 p.m., according to incident commander Lt. Dave Miller.
COJFD called for mutual aid from Fredericktown and Mount Vernon on the way to the fire, because it was reported as already fully involved, and there was not a direct water source at the scene.
About a mile up the road, personnel from Fredericktown pumped water into tankers that were rotated onto the fire scene. Fredericktown Chief Scott Mast said a total of about 9,000 gallons of water was used during the operation.
Fredericktown Assistant Chief Larry Schunke controlled the accountability board at the fire, making sure the personnel from different departments were marked in the location they were working.
Homeowners Chris and Amanda Burdulis, were in bed when the fire began. As Amanda slept, Chris said he noticed smoke above the bedroom door coming from the hallway as he watched television.
The couple’s two young children were staying with relatives for the night, because the Burdulises were concerned about their propane tank which had been disconnected earlier in the day.
“They unhooked our gas today, because they said we had a leak,” Amanda said.
According to Miller, there were no smoke detectors in the home. “We grabbed the dogs and got out, and ran to the neighbors to call 9-1-1,” Chris said. “By the time we got out, the whole living room was on fire.”
Calling it lucky that one of the two people inside was still awake to see the smoke, firemen on the scene stressed that the early warning from smoke detectors, buys precious time in a fast moving structure fire such as this.
“If there would have been smoke detectors, there would have been more time to get out,” Miller said.
The Homer and Hartford fire departments also brought equipment and manpower to the fire, which took about an hour and a half to completely extinguish.
Schunke said engines from Fredericktown, Homer, COJFD and a Hartford air wagon were on scene, along with tankers from Fredericktown, Homer and Centerburg.
A squad and grass truck from Fredericktown also responded, along with Fredericktown EMS personnel.
Miller said the cause of the fire was under investigation, but there was nothing suspicious looking about the scene.
The home was a complete loss. “We’ve got nothing left,” Amanda said watching the smoke and flames. “We ain’t got any insurance or anything.”
The Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross was providing the couple with assistance. Red Cross volunteer Darlene Theophilus said the couple planned to stay with family.