No one was injured, but Burlington Fire Marshal Mark Crooks says it could’ve been much worse…early this(Tues) morning for Gary and Cindy Gooch of rural Burlington.
Crooks says the call came in just before 4 am from 118-42 Upper Flint Road in Flint River Township and when they got there they found light smoke coming from the one-story wood-frame house. Burlington and West Burlington crews found a small fire in the kitchen and put it out. Damage has been estimated at $7,500 to the home and $1,000 to its contents.
Crooks says the fire was caused by a faulty cover plate for the brick chimney running through the kitchen wall. The chimney served a wood-burning stove in the basement. When the plate failed, it ignited some nearby combustible material on a kitchen cabinet shelf. The owner found the fire and got most of it out himself with a fire extinguisher.
Crooks says carbon monoxide could’ve meant a fatal outcome, had the fire not been discovered.
