FORT SMITH, Ark. — According to the Fort Smith Fire Department (FSFD), an early morning fire near the 900 block of North 14th Street ended with minor injuries for two firefighters on Nov. 26.
Officials say they began by offensively attacking the fire, before transitioning to a defensive approach when they realized the basement was engulfed in flames.
The house was reportedly vacant and boarded up, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, according to FSFD.
Chief Tommy Bishop and Battalion Chief Les Pyeatt say that one firefighter had returned to work and the other was out with a broken finger.
Chief Bishop says someone had entered the basement and started a fire to keep warm, but that fire got out of control. Chief Bishop also says that a fire at 515 Garrison Avenue may have been started when somebody was trying to stay warm.
In light of the two fires over the weekend, Battalion Chief Pyeatt wants to remind residents about fire safety, "Under no circumstances whatsoever should anybody try to start a fire inside of their house to stay warm."
"There are several resources for the homeless. They may have to follow some rules if they go and use those resources, but there are places that they can go to get out of the cold," Fire Marshal Pyeatt said.
5NEWS has gathered a list of heating centers across NWA.
Even if a fire isn't the source of heat, the fire marshal warns that other items like space heaters could lead to one.
"Plug those space heaters directly into the wall. Don't use extension cords of any type," Fire Marshal Pyeatt said. "Make sure that they don't have any blankets too close either."
Pyeatt says many older homes in Fort Smith have floor furnaces which could also create the same issues. To keep safe for the winter season, he says everyone should have a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector. Getting cozy next to a gas fire could invite many issues, specifically carbon monoxide.
"They call it the silent killer for a reason. You have no idea that it's actually in the air. It displaces the oxygen and could cause you to get sleepy and eventually fall asleep and never wake up," Pyeatt said.
5NEWS will update this article as more information about the fire is released.
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