An alert pedestrian out for an early-morning walk with their dog may have helped avert a potential tragedy as a quick call to 911 helped emergency service personnel quickly extinguish a structure fire on Lawman Avenue this morning.

 

According to the Harrison County 911 log, the call came in at 6:26 a.m. for the fire. The call was the result of a pedestrian who decided to act, said Bridgeport Fire Department Chief Phil Hart.

 

Hart said things worked out in a manner that the individual walking their dog just happened to be in the area of Lawman and noticed flames going up the side of the structure. Without that, he said, things could have turned out much different.

 

“If they hadn’t noticed it, the fire burning up the side of the house it could have been, in a couple of minutes, resulting in a situation of extensive damage or, worse, injuries or even fatalities,” said Hart. “At that time of the morning with people often sleeping and with the fire being on the outside a smoke detector may not have done much to assist until it would have impacted the inside of the structure.”

 

Hart said the same individual was able to alert the residents inside. All occupants and pets were safely out when fire personnel arrived.

 

The fire started as the result of an electric heater. Hart said the heater was placed inside of a shelter built to house a cat.

 

“The heater was too close to the combustibles inside the shelter that was on the side of the house and it caught fire,” said Hart. “That led to the house catching fire.”

 

Hart said his crews arrived in bitterly cold temperatures and immediately spotted flames going up the side of the home. He said it was extinguished very quickly.

 

“There was no interior damage. The damage was all on the exterior with the main damage around the electrical entrance. The electric had to be disconnected,” said Hart. “The home is inhabitable, but there’s no electric. Because of that, there is no heat and that’s a big concern with the weather at this time.”

 

Hart did say one issue took place during the blaze and it may have been unintentional. A hydrant within 150 feet of the building had a hose running to it and a fire apparatus. Although the hose was still a “dry line” at the time, an unknown individual ran over the hose as the blaze was ongoing.

 

“There was no damage thankfully because the hoses are expensive. Had it been engaged, it can affect the water flow and put the fire fighters in danger and the property at risk,” he said. “We ask the community, as they usually are, to be alert and try to stay back from the area. This may simply have been a case of a driver being distracted because of the fire, but if something happens the consequences are real.”

 

Anmoore, Shinnston and Nutter Fort Fire Departments were also alerted. They are all part of the mutual aid agreements put in place to assist agencies.