Car fire

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

On Friday morning, Nov. 18, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a vehicle that was parked in front of The First Bank caught on fire. Jefferson County Fire Rescue Engine 1 responded swiftly to the call, and within 35 minutes were able to completely extinguish the flames and clear the
scene.
According to the fire report, Engine 1 arrived on the scene to find the vehicle in question upright with heavy smoke and flames clearly visible coming out of the front end of the car. The crew deployed their front hose line and were able to extinguish the fire by use of water only. After the flames were under control, the hood of the car was pried open, and the doors and trunk were opened to help ventilate the smoke.
The report states that the owner of the vehicle provided additional information at the scene, saying that he left his car running with the heater on while he stepped into the bank. He stated that, when he came back out, the car was on fire.
The vehicle fire was determined to have caused around $20,000 in property damage. JCFR assisted the owner of the vehicle with having the car towed and clearing up the scene. While the fire is determined to have been ignited in the heating system of the car, the exact cause of ignition is unknown but is believed to be accidental in nature. No injuries have been reported at this time.

House fire

Lori Leskanic
ECB Publishing, Inc.

On Monday, Nov. 21, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a call was dispatched to local authorities about smoke and fire in the attic at a residence located at 5 N. Front Ct., in Monticello. Jefferson County Fire Rescue and EMS Department responded to the call, joined by the
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Monticello Volunteer Fire Department and CERT Team.
Upon arrival there was a mobile home with smoke coming from the eaves. The fire rescue teams were on site for well over two hours extinguishing the flames entirely as family and neighbors looked on helplessly. Residents stated there were animals inside, a snake, three lizards, and two dogs. The dogs escaped on their own. The snake and lizards were in cages and recovered without harm by fire crews and given to the residents.
Investigation of the home determined that all residents had safely vacated the building.
According to the Fire Dept. report, one of the home’s residents stated she was in the living room and started smelling something burning that smelled like plastic or wires. She then walked towards the smell in the back of the house and when she opened the door to the bedroom there was heavy smoke, and she could see flames from the closet where the breaker panel was located.
She then got an extinguisher and tried to put out the fire, but the extinguisher ran out.
She then got everyone out and called 911.
There was a single bedroom on the back corner that was involved in the fire and was 60% burned. The rest of the house was unharmed by major fire damage.
The fire appeared to start in a closet within the involved bedroom. It appeared to be electrical failure or malfunction as the cause.