No injuries were reported in a 8:32 a.m. Wednesday fire at a house at 107 N. Tucker St. in Mentone. According to Mentone Fire Department Chief Butch Warren, the fire started in an upstairs bedroom that was being heated with an electric heater. The fire was ruled electrical. The home, owned by William and Penny Hall, had only one smoke detector, which did not sound. An occupant of the home smelled smoke and went upstairs to find the receptacle, where the heater was plugged in, smoldering. Because the smoke detector was on the lower floor, Warren said, the family was lucky that the fire didn't occur during sleeping hours or it may not have been discovered in time for a safe escape. Warren reminds residence that smoke detectors are available through the fire department at no charge through the Kosciusko County Smoke Detector Program, which has a goal of placing smoke detectors in every home in the county. MFD received a full assist from Burket Fire Department. Pictured are firefighters from both departments working at the back of the house. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union[[In-content Ad]]
