Hot wire starts insulation fire in Keokuk

  • Source: Keokuk Daily Gate City
  • Published: 07/29/2016 02:08 AM

An attic fire Wednesday evening at 2121 Palean St., Keokuk, resulted in damage to the attic and kitchen ceiling, and water damage throughout the house. Firefighters responded to the fire at 6:33 p.m. When they arrived, light grey smoke was coming from the attic of the one-story wood-frame house owned by Travis McGee and occupied by Kevin McGee. Kevin McGee told fire personnel he had turned off the electrical breaker. However, firefighters called Alliant to cut power to the house after seeing a live wire in the attic near smoldering insulation. This morning, Assistant Chief Mark Vogel said it’s department policy to have the power cut off by the utility company before making entry. While they waited, firefighter Damon Cackley monitored the fire with a thermal imager through the outside attic wall, and firefighter Ryan Haney used a roof saw to cut two holes through the outside wall of the attic so they could crawl into the cramped attic space. Conditions were uncomfortable for firefighters in full breakout gear, with temperatures in the 80s and constant smoke.



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