FREDERICKTOWN — Fire in a home at 11440 Yankee Street, north of Fredericktown and east of Ohio 13, gutted a bedroom Monday night and caused heavy smoke and heat damage to the rest of the home. Home owner John Brokaw told the Fredericktown Fire Department he smelled smoke in the bedroom and called 9-1-1 at 10:20 p.m.
Fredericktown Fire Chief Scott Mast said his department confined the fire to the bedroom of the 1,200-square-foot house. Firefighters were able to contain the fire in about an hour, he said, but not before the fierce fire burned a large hole in the rear of the house. Firefighters cut out the garage wall next to the bedroom to drag out a burning mattress and clothing.
“We think the fire was electrical, but we’re not sure what caused it,” said Mast.
Brokaw told Mast there were two smoke detectors in the house, but he was out of the house and did not know if they worked.
The department responded with two engines, a water tank truck and rescue vehicle, along with 14 firefighters. Jefferson Township Fire Department at Bellville provided mutual aid with a tanker and three firefighters.
“We had enough water, we used only 2,000 gallons on the fire,” Mast said.
The firefighters fought the fire in 20 degree temperatures, but there was no wind. Mast said there was no problem fighting the fire in the cold.
There were no injuries to firefighters. The Red Cross responded to the scene with food for the firefighters. The Red Cross is also aiding Brokaw, who is going to stay with relatives. The department was on the scene about four hours.
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