At 12:23 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024, the Canton Fire Department responded to a call reporting a fire in an occupied 2 ½ story residential structure along 7th St NW.
Upon arrival, fire crews were met by an adult female and her three children, who had been forced from their home by a fire originating on their front porch. The blaze extended from the porch to the interior of the house. Crews acted promptly, successfully extinguishing the fire in the original building and preventing its spread to an adjacent house where the siding had ignited.
Unfortunately, the house where the fire originated sustained heavy damage, is unlivable. The adjacent home incurred minor damage and remains livable. The Red Cross was summoned to provide assistance to the displaced mother and her three children.
The investigation into the incident revealed that the fire was caused by a child discarding incense into a pile of trash on the front porch. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among firefighters or civilians.
This incident marks the third fire on 7th St NW within a three-day period. Canton Fire Division Chief Steve Henderson emphasized that, despite the proximity in both time and location, the fires are unrelated.
Authorities urge residents to exercise caution and adhere to fire safety measures to prevent further incidents.