Quick response limits residential fire damage Saturday

New Albany fire crews were dispatched about 6 a.m. Saturday for reports of smoke coming from a structure at 1112 Rolling Hills Drive.

When crews arrived they verified smoke coming from the eaves of the brick home. Crews made entry and found a fire in the attic in the area of the bathroom exhaust fan-heater. They quickly extinguished the fire with minor fire damage above the ceiling level in the attic with water damage to the living areas of the home, Acting Fire Chief Mark Whiteside said.

“We are leaning in the direction of an electrical issue in or around the exhaust-heater,” Whiteside said.

A neighbor saw the smoke and alerted the residents possibly saving the home and residents from further damage or harm.

With the time of the call it caught the fire department in the middle of their shift change, which led to double the amount of personnel responding on the trucks.

“Talk about perfect timing for a well-equipped and staff response,” Whiteside said. “We were able to actually respond with three double-staffed fire trucks to the scene.”

No injuries were reported and damage was limited, the chief said.

The New Albany department also responded about 7 a.m. Monday when a truck apparently hit and ruptured a natural gas line behind Sherwin Williams Paint on West Bankhead Street.

Crews stood by in case of fire but the gas was shut off without incident.