Computer causes West Side fire

YOUNGSTOWN — An old computer left too close to a desk started a house fire at 108 South Hazelwood Avenue on the West Side Friday morning that caused $25,000 damage.

The woman living there and two people who had come to visit were away from the house at the time the fire started, Batallion Chief Rich Russo said.

The woman had hooked up a new computer on Thursday and left the old tower turned on under a desk with the fan side of the computer up against the desk, Russo said.

The computer apparently ignited the varnish on the desk, which burned two rooms of the house and caused extensive smoke damage.

A passerby called 911 after seeing smoke and fire coming out a window.

The woman’s insurance company provided the woman and her guests with temporary housing, Russo said.