MOUNT VERNON — A spark created from disconnecting a battery cable started a fire Sunday from gasoline vapors, setting a boat on fire and spreading to the pole barn where the boat was stored. Owner Randy Hurlow said he jumped from the boat, yelling for his wife, Rose, to call the fire department.
Hurlow said he was getting the boat ready for Labor Day weekend. The pole barn was located near one corner of the one-story home, which is located at 14208 Nelson Drive. When the fire started, Hurlow drove a truck mount camper from the barn, but suffered a burned left hand and burns on his left leg and face. He was treated at the scene by Mount Vernon paramedics, and later went to Knox Community Hospital.
Mount Vernon Fire Department Capt. Joe Jurkowitz, who was the incident commander, said the MVFD got the alarm at 4:10 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 4:19 p.m. The fire created a huge cloud of smoke, visible around Mount Vernon. The fire was so intense it set fire to the rear of the home, spreading into the attic. Firefighters cut holes in the roof and put out the flames in the rafters.
There is water damage to the interior of the home, but an estimate of damages is not yet available.
The Hurlows said that in addition to the boat and camper in the shed, there was a a skid loader, a lawn tractor and tools that were also lost in the fire. The radiant heat slightly damaged the siding of a nearby home.
A vintage 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass, stored in the front of the garage, escaped damage.
“The guys did a real good job, they concentrated on stopping the fire in the house first,” said Fire Chief Shawn Christy.
According to Jurkowitz, there is not a water system or hydrants in the area, so he called for mutual aid from Fredericktown for an engine, tanker and medic. With the 2,000 gallons of water on the two Mount Vernon engines, plus the water supplied by Fredericktown, firefighters had enough water to combat the fire.
