Austintown house fire caused by electrical problem

AUSTINTOWN — A house fire at 4865 New Road was apparently caused by an electrical malfunction, the township fire department says.

The fire at 12:50 p.m. Monday started in the basement at the home. No one was there at the time, but the fire was discovered by the homeowner when he returned, said assistant fire chief Andy Frost. Frost did not have the homeowner’s name.

Frost said the fire did $50,000 in damage to the house. The basement had fire damage and the upstairs rooms had smoke and heat damage, he said.

One firefighter slightly injured his back, and sought treatment at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Frost said.