Passer-by alerts offi cials to early morning house fi re
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An unknown person passing by Cody DeBord’s home early Wednesday morning, August 22, reported flames coming from the home. The person knocked on the door to see if anyone was home, but fortunately, DeBord and his two children were not there at the time, said Kristen Watson, secretary for the Griffith Volunteer Fire Department.
Within 20 minutes, firemen from three different departments arrived on the scene at 4:42 a.m. and had water being applied to the single-family dwelling, said Watson.
Griffith, Brockdell and Mt. Crest fire departments have an automatic aid agreement to respond whenever a structure fire is in any of their communities, explained Watson. The combined departments were able to combine their manpower and contain the fire to the front bedroom where the fire of unknown origin started, she said, and the fact the bedroom door was closed, the fire did not spread throughout the home.
There was significant damage to the bedroom area and smoke damage throughout, noted Watson.
DeBord had left for work early that morning, said Watson, and she contacted him at Aviagen to make sure no one was at the residence. She said she was relieved to find out his children were not present either.
Firemen remained on the scene for about two hours, applying approximately 5,000 gallons of water pumped from a nearby hydrant, she said. Following the fire being extinguished, a positive-pressure ventilation fan was deployed at the front entry to remove smoke from the remainder of the home, described Watson. Their ventilation efforts were effective, allowing crews to check wall and ceiling voids in the bedroom where the fire is believed to have started.
An exact cause has not been determined. Watson said they are awaiting insurance inspectors to determine the cause.
Currently, DeBord is living in a camper.
The home was built by DeBord’s grandfather in the Sixties, noted Watson.