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27 Feb 2012
Late night fire in a vacant home on Weller Road, off Bell Ave, in Elyria is believed to have started after a squirrel ate through wiring in the attic of the home.
When Firefighters arrived they found a moderate amount of smoke coming from the house and flames could be seen inside through the front windows. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within a half hour.
No injuries were reported.
George Williams,
General Manager - Staff Entomologist
16 Jan 2012
A HOUSE FIRE SUNDAY morning generated an explosion that sent six people to the hospital including four firefighters and an off-duty firefighter. The blaze began just before 9 am while the elderly resident was out for her morning walk. After investigation it has been determined that a squirrel on a utility pole created a short that blew the transformer. The short circuit sent a 7,600-volt surge into the house and started the fire.
A neighbor called the Centerville Fire Department and they arrived to find the working fire that had already burned part of the roof off. While they were inside the burning house a powerful explosion detonated sending fire out all the windows and stunning the firefighters. They all made it out of the house ok, but had assorted bumps, bruises and burns requiring them to be transported. Also injured were an off-duty firefighter from another department who had stopped to help and a bystander. The explosion knocked out the windows, shifted the walls and blew off what remained of the roof.
The investigators discovered yesterday (Monday) that when the underground utilities were laid, that the electric cable and the gas pipe were placed on top of each other. They found evidence that the power surge started the cable burning and it eventually cause the gas pipe to fail, letting leaking gas follow the line into the house where the working fire detonated the higher pressure leak.
WHO-TV Ch. 13 Des Moines has a good video report showing the failed utility lines along with interviews of the firefighters who were in the house at the time.
George Williams,
General Manager - Staff Entomologist
03 Aug 2011
Rodents Blamed for Two House Fires
First it was a mouse, now rats are to blame for a fire that destroyed the Bay of Plenty home of a retired police officer.
The Te Puke house fire was one of two believed to have been started by rodents chewing through wires, the Bay of Plenty Times reported.
The other house fire in Southland was caused by an electrical fault in the heat pump, believed to have been caused by a mouse.
In the Bay of Plenty, the fire swept through the kitchen, toilet, and laundry area as Brian Carney, 72, his wife, and daughter slept.
Fire authorities said a closed kitchen door saved their lives and it was believed rats were responsible.
Bay of Plenty fire safety officer Jon Rewi said the cooler nights could see more vermin nesting in homes.
He urged people who are concerned about rats or mice to do something about it as rodents cause many fires.
Source: Associated Press
George Williams
General Manager - Staff Entomologist
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