By Kimberly Gasuras
An overloaded circuit and electric heaters caused a house fire on South Walnut Street on Tuesday afternoon.
According to acting fire chief, Chad Schwemley, the Bucyrus Fire Department was dispatched to the fire at 575 ½ S. Walnut St., at 2:33 p.m.
“The fire was limited to a ceiling and a wall in the hall upstairs,” Schwemley said. “Damage to the contents of the upstairs apartment was two to three-hundred dollars and damage to the structure was about $15,000.”
Schwemley said there was no natural gas service to the residence and the family was using portable heaters to heat the home.
“The circuit was overloaded,” Schwemley said.
Electric service to the house had to be shut off, rendering the apartment unlivable.
Christian Evans, 18, his pregnant girlfriend, Starla Johnson, 21, Johnson’s teenage sister, and a three-year-old child lived in the apartment.
“The Red Cross is helping them with a place to stay for a few nights,” said Brandy McKee, Evans’ mother.
A firefighter was injured after stepping on a container of salt while exiting one of the four fire trucks at the scene.
“He twisted his ankle, but other than that, there no injuries,” Schwemley said.
The firefighter was treated at Bucyrus Community Hospital and released.
Firefighters were on the scene for a little more than two hours.
McKee said her son and his family are in need of a few immediate items and has set up a GoFundMe account at https://www.gofundme.com/j8h4c-family-fire.
“What they can use right now is shoes, hats, gloves. Shoes sizes are men’s size 11, women’s size 9 1/2 and 7 and toddler boys size 8. And the toddler boys size is 4T in clothing,” McKee said. “Starla is 35 weeks pregnant and they are now in need of a crib and clothing for the little baby boy on the way.”