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Afternoon fire blamed on space heater

Monday, December 30, 2013
By LAUREN BOUCHER, Staff Writer
A small space heater was determined to be the cause of an afternoon fire, which damaged the Coatesville home of David Williams

COATESVILLE -- Local fire departments responded to a reported house fire in Coatesville Monday afternoon, containing the blaze to the living room/dining room area of the home and saving three family dogs.

The Floyd Township Fire Department was dispatched at 3:39 p.m. to the home of David Williams at 8241 E. CR 357 North.

Fire units arrived and were quickly able to knock down visible fire on the outside and free the three dogs, which were trapped inside.

"We actually held it pretty minimal," Floyd Township Fire Chief Roger Wright said. "There was extensive smoke damage, but it was isolated to that living room, dining room and kitchen area."

The blaze was contained within two minutes of firefigthers' arrival using nearly 1,500 gallons of water.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by an electrical space heater in the living room.

Fire officials estimated the structural damage to the home at $10,000.

Other departments responding to the scene included Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department, Mill Creek Fire Department, Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department, Danville Fire Department, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department and Operation Life.

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  • Great Job Roger!!!

    -- Posted by rileyscott on Tue, Dec 31, 2013, at 2:33 PM

  • I love the fact that Floyd is taking all the credit for stopping the blaze, when their engine got lost and Fillmore was on scene first. I think it is sad that a fire department doesn't even know the roads in their own area. GREAT JOB FILLMORE, BAINBRIDGE, MILL CREEK, DANVILLE Ya'll didn't get lost!

    -- Posted by all_bs on Tue, Dec 31, 2013, at 6:01 PM

  • Last time I checked, No one is prefect. Remember the time you showed up to a fire with an empty tanker?

    -- Posted by nomoretaxes on Wed, Jan 1, 2014, at 12:55 AM

  • I'm not on a fire department, just a neighbor that watched the whole thing unfold. It just sickens me to know that the fire department at Floyd doesn't know what way to go if I have an emergency! I pay taxes to have that protection and they can't respond in a quick manner.

    -- Posted by all_bs on Wed, Jan 1, 2014, at 2:07 PM

  • Sounds like to me all_bs is simply that....all bs! If they were just a "neighbor that watched the whole thing unfold" than how do they know the truck "got lost"? Sounds like to me they are someone on a neighboring department or a relative to someone on a neighboring department who has an issue with Floyd Township. I wish I was as perfect as "all_bs" Someone always has to throw in the "I pay taxes" card. Funny thing is, if the members of the fire department live in the township, they pay their taxes there too. I bet you are the same type of person who calls in when they are driving too fast to get to where they are going, but complain that they can't get to your house fast enough. Maybe you need to remember that most of the departments in the county are volunteer and are not staffed 24/7, so depending on who is available and where they are coming from, it may take them a while to get to where they need to be. If you have such a problem with how it's done now, why don't you step up to the plate and show them how to get it done the right way in your simple minded brain.

    -- Posted by PutnamCountyResident on Thu, Jan 2, 2014, at 2:42 AM

  • So many critics and so few volunteers!

    First, if you saw what was going on, why not get out there and help direct firefighters to the location ???

    Finding anything in this county is a challenge. At least 15 years ago I had to direct an ambulance by phone or they never would have found the patient.

    Putnam county cannot provide anyone with a complete map. Perhaps all of Chief Wright 's work on a better one will help. It has been a project he has worked on for quite a while.

    Please appreciate FTFD firefighters! They get more than 200 hours of training, compared to the 40 hours required by surrounding departments. And they are always doing continuing education as a department and individually.

    Most if them have full time jobs and young families but they never complain about getting up in the middle of the night to help YOU.

    Be grateful for what we have.

    -- Posted by mudpie on Fri, Jan 3, 2014, at 7:27 PM

  • First of all as a firefighter I want to say mistakes do happen, Murphy's law does still apply to us. Second...the fire service is a brother-hood. Every fire department has its strengths and weaknesses so we have to rely on each other. I was there watching the "whole thing unfold" too. Unfortunately I didn't have my turn-out gear with me, so I stood back so I wouldn't get hurt and compromise the operation. Like Chief said, their truck did make a wrong turn. Hopefully the new maps will help in the future. Why don't you try navigating these roads with a 6 ton truck, heart racing, several people talking to you at the same time, you thinking how am I going to put this fire out, worried about the persons sitting next to you hoping every one stays safe and comes back home to their families. Oh yeah...by the way I'm not on Floyd twp. but I am still standing up for them because that is what the brother-hood is about!!!!

    -- Posted by josh_flater on Fri, Jan 3, 2014, at 11:13 PM
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