A fire of undetermined cause heavily damaged the Daniel Russell home at 1405 North Elm in Central City late Tuesday afternoon.
Centralia Fire Protection District Chief Ross Boshera says no one was home when a neighbor spotted smoke. Upon arrival, firemen found a working fire still in the kitchen that had almost burned itself out due to lack of oxygen before some windows broke out due to the heat. The rest of the home received heavy smoke and heat damage.
Boshera says no one was home at the time the fire was discovered and there were no injuries in fighting the fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Boshera says a dog and three cats perished in the blaze.
The Centralia City Fire Department provided mutual aid assistance. Central City Police, Life Star Ambulance, and Centralia ESDA also assisted.
North Elm Street was shut down for about an hour during the firefighting effort.
Firemen received the call at 4:50 Tuesday afternoon with firemen on the scene until around 6:30 pm.
Captain Bland rounds the front corner of the home checking on the fire. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Battalion Chief, Tim Hilton, confers with Centralia Fire Protection District Lieutenant Billy Baird inside the bedroom at the rear of the house. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Lt. Billy Baird and firefighter Brandon Tate, first inside, emerge from inside the house while others take over. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
