Early Morning Fire Damages Two Mobile Homes
An early morning fire caused by charcoal ashes on Sunday Morning damaged two mobile homes in Columbus. Early Sunday, Columbus Firefighters were called to the Candlelight Village Community for a report of a structure on fire. Upon arriving at the scene firefighters found a detached storage building showing heavy fire. As firefighters were preparing to attack the flames, the extreme heat from the blaze extended the fire to two neighboring homes
Firefighters battled flames for 10 minutes before the fire at both homes were under control. The two families escaped prior to the arrival of firefighters and were uninjured.
Due to the damage to each home, power service was disconnected. As a result of the fire, both families will be displaced and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.
Investigators with the Columbus Fire Department interviewed both families at the scene and during the investigation it was shared that a charcoal grill was used on Friday evening and ashes for the grill was discarded near the wooden storage building on Saturday evening.
Investigators found burn patterns on the exterior of the wooden storage building that matched the location where the ashes were located. Investigators have ruled the cause of the fire as accidental due to improper disposal of a cooking fuel.
The Columbus Fire Department recommends that cooking fuels, such as charcoal and wood, are doused with water before discarding. Discard ash or coals in a non-combustible pail or can and store outside away from other combustibles.
No injuries were reported at the scene . Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department. Columbus Township Fire Rescue, Columbus Regional Health EMS, Columbus City Utilities, CenterPoint and Duke Energy.
Photos Courtesy of the Columbus Fire Department