By FRANK LEWIS
PDT Staff Writer
A residential structure on 10th Street in South Portsmouth, Ky., is being described as a total loss following a fire about 6:30 a.m. Monday.
“Upon arrival we had heavy flames showing from the center section of the house, spreading to both ends of the house,” South Shore Assistant Fire Chief Charles Farley said. “We deployed a defensive attack due to the nature and the size of the fire.”
There were a few anxious moments when firefighters were not sure if someone was inside.
“We were advised of unknown entrapment,” Farley said. “But we learned that the person who was living there, one of the co-owners, was at the emergency room at the hospital (Southern Ohio Medical Center) over in Portsmouth. She was not home at the time that the fire occurred.”
Jason and Christy Smith are the owners of the house and Christy Smith was the lone occupant of the house but had gone to the hospital with an unrelated illness when the fire broke out.
“I called and talked to her a few minutes ago and got her insurance information,” Farley said.
The South Shore department requested mutual aid for manpower and a tanker from the Washington Township (West Portsmouth) Fire Department.
“They (Washington Township) had four people show up, and our station responded with an engine and two tankers and 15 personnel,” Farley said.
Farley said the house was a total loss and the roof completely caved in during the battling of the blaze.
“Right now it’s of unknown origin, due to the heavy fire damage,” Farley said.
Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.
THEY HAVE AN ASST. FIRE CHIEF?
PTOWN DOES NOT HAVE THAT OR WE HAVE A CHIEF THAT HAS TO WORK ALL THE FIRES? HMMMMMMMMM...........