Creosote may have triggered house fire

A Glenns Ferry home suffered extensive damaged when it caught fire Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 16.

Glenns Ferry Fire Department dispatched two pumpers and a brush truck to battle the blaze that broke out in the home of Dick and Ann Harder, 419 S. Commercial Ave., around 12:30 p.m.

The Harders were able to escape unharmed with their pets and some personal items.

Although the home is considered a loss, some rooms and personal items sustained only smoke and water damage, said Glenns Ferry Fire Chief Bob Janousek.

An investigation revealed that the fire started in the basement where the home's fireplace structure begins.

The investigation indicates that the clean-out for the fireplace had become clogged, resulting in a build-up of creosote. The fireplace was in use at the time, and a live ember may have dropped down onto the creosote.

After igniting the creosote the fire spread to nearby wood shelves and other flammable items.

The fire then advanced to the first story sub-floor and continued burning up the walls to the second level.

Fighting the fire was difficult because rooms had been added onto the home over the years creating "dead spaces" and "false ceilings", Janousek noted. Firefighters eventually were forced to open the roof to advance their battle against the flames.

Brown smoke billowed from the home's windows as firefighters doused the flames with water.

Firemen used a long poll with a hook at one end to pull items out of the home.

Just after the fire began, the Harder's son was able to gain access and remove guns and ammunition.

South Commercial Avenue, between Arthur and Garfield, was blocked to traffic while firefighters battled the conflagration that took six hours to extinguish.

At about 4:30 a.m. Friday, fire crews were once again dispatched to the home to put out a small fire that had erupted near the home's fireplace. It was extinguished within an hour, Janousek said.