Paul Bass Photo
Everyone got out safely when a fire engulfed a West River house on Friday.
The fire department received a call about the fire at 36 Ellsworth Ave. at 12:52 p.m. Crews were able to knock down the fire, which started in the kitchen, quickly.
Click on the above video to watch Battalion Chief Johnnie Cooper describe the crews’ work at the scene.
No one was hurt. Extensive damage was reported, limited to the first-floor kitchen.
Had the fire occurred at night, it might have caused more harm, observed Fire Chief John Alston Jr.
He said that despite heavy smoke, there appears to have been no evidence of a working smoke alarm to alert people.
“This could have been a different fire 10 hours from now with people sleeping upstairs,” Alston said. He urged people to make sure their homes have working alarms: “Smoke alarms work. They save lives.”
Firefighters packing up after knocking down the fire.
Fire investigator Doug Wardlaw interviewing witnesses at the scene.