Extension cord used to heat dog's house causes Youngstown fire

YOUNGSTOWN — Fire reports say an extension cord used to provide heat to a dog house caused a home at 56 Winchester Ave. to catch fire about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Reports said when crews arrived at the West Side home they found a fire on the side of the house and a dog house next to the house was also on fire. Reports said firefighters told the dog’s owner to untie the dog and get out of the way.

Crews managed to put out the fire on the outside of the home but when they got inside they found it spread to the second floor and was put out. Reports noted the entire first floor was crammed with clutter.

Reports said the owner told police the home was his uncle’s and he uses it for storage. The cord was found running from inside the house to the dog house, where it powered a light in a metal box to provide heat for the dog, reports said. The cord was burned out, reports said.

The owner took the dog inside to his home, reports said. Damage is listed at $6,000. No one was injured.