Fire damages Florence house
Staff reporter
A house in Florence burned Tuesday afternoon. At approximately 12:15 p.m., Florence Fire Department responded to 221 W. Fifth, and saw smoke coming from an east window.
The house sets in close proximity to neighboring houses, so mutual aid was requested with Peabody Fire Department responding. The department brought its thermal imaging camera.
"The (thermal imaging) camera was a great help," Peabody Fire Chief Bret O'Dell said, which saved time for the firefighters and potential damage to the house.
Instead of removing or destroying parts of the interior of the house to find the fire, the camera helped locate hot spots which were doused with water.
"There was a lot of heat and smoke," said O'Dell.
Siding on the east side of the house near a window was melted, and smoke billowed from the window and roof line.
O'Dell said the smoke had not reached the floor when the fire was extinguished.
Josh and Peggy Clark lived in the house and were in the process of purchasing it. No one was in the house at the time of the fire.
Sunflower Chapter of the American Red Cross had been contacted to assist the family.
Josh Clark said he appreciated the quick response and assistance from the two fire departments and Florence EMS. The house was insured.
