House fire rekindled; another is ruled arson

Staff report

SOUTHINGTON

The state fire marshal’s office says a 1 a.m. Tuesday house fire at 4004 Phalanx Mills Herner Road was the result of an earlier kitchen-stove fire that got into the ductwork.

The family extinguished a stove fire during the day Monday and didn’t report it to the Southington Fire Department, according to a news release from the state fire marshal.

But the fire was also in the exhaust hood of the stove, and it extended into the ductwork, where it smoldered for several hours before it finally extended into the attic and caused a much larger fire, the fire marshal said.

About 1 a.m., a passerby alerted the family, consisting of four adults and five children, that the top of the house was on fire, and all escaped unharmed. The fire caused “significant damage,” the state fire marshal said.

The state fire marshal’s office encourages all Ohioans to report every fire, no matter how small or insignificant the fire seems, so that firefighters can check for extension into walls, cabinets or ductwork, the fire marshal said.

Investigators found two smoke detectors in the home, but neither detector had batteries.

Working smoke alarms should be placed on every level of the home and inside each sleeping area, the state fire marshal’s office said. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced every six months. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

Meanwhile, the state fire marshal has ruled that a 4 a.m. fire Aug. 25 in a vacant mobile home at 29 11th Street in Weathersfield Township was arson.

Investigators were able to eliminate accidental causes and have evidence that the fire was intentionally set, the fire marshal said. The mobile home had been empty since May, and no one was injured.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered to anyone with information leading to the identification of the person or persons responsible. Anyone with information should call the state fire marshal’s office at 800-589-2728.

Witnesses said they saw a person near the mobile home approximately 20 to 30 minutes before the fire was discovered. The person is described as a male, approximately 45 to 50 years, short with a medium build and dark hair.