Ohio Firefighters Must Wait To Fight Blaze

June 20, 2006
Firefighters had to wait about 25 minutes

Firefighters could not start extinguishing a blaze at a home on Sunday evening until crews turned off the electricity.

Crews were called to the Northglen Drive home in Mifflin Township at about 6:45 p.m., NBC 4 's Tacoma Newsome reported.

Investigators said a downed power line charged a metal fence, Newsome reported.

The fence was touching the house, so the electricity spread to the home's aluminum siding and doors.

Firefighters had to wait about 25 minutes until American Electric Power crews turned off the electricity, Newsome reported.

"In waiting for AEP to get here, the fire did grow in intensity," said Mifflin Township Fire Chief Jeff Wright. "We ended up having the second floor of the residence gutted. Once we were able to get the power shut off and make entry into the house, the fire was put out and in a relatively short time."

At one point, fire crews called for police because many of the neighbors became upset while firefighters were waiting to extinguish the blaze.

No injuries were reported.

Watch NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.

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