MORE: See video from the fire north of Cassville by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GSv254tzQ/

Faulty power strip, chimney flue causes of fires

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

The Cassville Fire Protection District responded to two house fires over the weekend, both of which were quickly extinguished and with no injuries to occupants of the homes.

Christ Reibert, assistant fire chief, said the first fire was at a home on Farm Road 2175, outside city limits, at 9:19 p.m. on Friday. Units responded by 9:35 p.m., with auto aid from Butterfield and Jenkins, and found a small fire in the chimney flue of a wood-burning fire place.

“The fire was in the flue in the attic, in the space between the ceiling and roof,” he said. “We got it put out with minimal damage to the living room.”

Two people were in the home at the time of the fire, and neither sustained any injuries, nor were they displaced.

Reibert said keeping chimneys and flues maintained, especially during use in winter, is imperative.

“Get them inspected yearly for cleanliness and to make sure they are free of cracks or holes,” he said.

Cassville crews left the scene at 11:03 p.m., and a few hours later, at 1:30 a.m., they were dispatched to a home north of Cassville, also outside city limits, for another fire.

Cassville arrived at 1:47 a.m., and Butterfield, on auto aid, had already arrived and put out the blaze.

“Butterfield arrived first because they had people at the station,” Reibert said. “They extinguished a small fire in a bedroom. Exeter also came on auto aid.”

Reibert said there were no injuries to any of the home’s five occupants, and there was minor damage to the one bedroom.

“The cause was improper use of a power strip and its placement,” Reibert said. “Please avoid putting power strips on mattresses. This strip failed and sparked, which caught the mattress on fire. We also recommend only using UL-tested power strips.”

After venting the room, crews left the scene at 2:48 a.m. Reibert added in this situation, smoke detectors were invaluable.

“Having working smoke detectors is a big deal,” he said. “In this case, that’s what woke the family up.”