Two house fires around city overnight

Monday, February 4, 2008

Finley and Lenox firefighters spray water in the interior of the house this morning.
[Click to enlarge]

Two house fires overnight were reported around the city.

A fire reported at 6:10 a.m. today at the residence at 3803 Hwy. 104 W., near the Dead Man's Curve, closed the road for more than two hours, as firefighters from Finley and Lenox extinguished the blaze.

The 1,140-square-foot house, owned by a Ripley man, was being renovated at the time of the fire.

A passing motorist alerted authorities to the fire. The cause is undetermined.

A fire was also reported at 10:36 p.m. Sunday at the Jeff Cartwright residence at 285 Village St.

The house did not suffer extensive damage from the fire, said Dyer County Fire Chief James Medling, which was caused by a pet heating bulb igniting vinyl siding.

Medling said three fires since Thanksgiving in the county can be attributed to the heating lamps, which are used to warm outside pets in cold weather.

"If they're too close to the house or inside a garage, that could well be trouble," said Medling.

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At least they were caring about their pets. I am constantly shocked at the number of dyer county residents who will let their animals freeze in 20 degree weather. Tell me, what good is it to have a pet if you chain them up all day and let them freeze at night?

-- Posted by hmmmmm on Mon, Feb 4, 2008, at 5:51 PM

Was it imperative that the pet light be in use on a night when the low temperature was in the upper 50's?

-- Posted by /\/ \/\/T/\/ on Mon, Feb 4, 2008, at 7:07 PM