Family displaced following fire on Putnam

Firefighters+tape+off+the+property+located+at+950+Putnam+Avenue+after+an+electrical+fire.

Firefighters tape off the property located at 950 Putnam Avenue after an electrical fire.

By Christine Holmes, News Director

Two adults and three young children lost their home to a house fire Tuesday afternoon at 950 Putnam Ave.

Around 1 p.m., the family returned home from an appointment to find smoke coming from inside the house. No one was inside at the time.

The Zanesville Fire Department arrived and was able to contain the flames to the front bedroom where the fire began, but much of the two-story house sustained damage.

“There’s heat and smoke throughout the entire house,” said Assistant Fire Chief Doug Hobson. “The front bedroom, is … unfortunately, everything is gone.”

The American Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the family, who Hobson said will be staying with relatives since they will not be able to remain at the home at this time.

“Structurally, the house is fine, but as far as being able to live, I mean it will take a lot of cleaning this up,” said Hobson.

According to Hobson, the cause of the fire appears to be electrical in nature and likely sparked from an outlet with a multi-plug adapter in the front bedroom.

Hobson advised anyone who uses multi-plug adapters also use surge protectors to help prevent fires.

“Use surge protectors with GFI that way if something happens, you know hopefully that will kick and stop the power to it,” said Hobson.

Also there to assist with statements and traffic control was the Zanesville Police Department, although the fire is not considered suspicious.

ValueCare Ambulance was on scene, and also asked to assist but called off were the South Zanesville and Falls Township Fire Departments.

No injuries were sustained.