Discarded ashes had enough spark to ignite Amherst home
Updated: 04/15/08 9:29 AM
Fireplace ashes carelessly discarded onto a rear porch sparked a fire that left an estimated $200,000 damage to a home on Oakwood Drive in Amherst on Monday night, fire officials reported today.
Volunteer firefighters from Main-Transit and Snyder responded to a 9:29 p.m. alarm at 80 Oakwood, with the first firefighters arriving in one minute and finding heavy fire at the rear of the house.
As firefighters battled the blaze, the electric wires at the rear of the home began to arc. National Grid was called and cut the power to the single-story home.
Fifty-two firefighters from Main-Transit and seven from Snyder limited the heavy damage to the rear porch and attic, fire officials said. Main-Transit Fire Chief Robert Karl commanded the response.
