Conneaut family escapes fire

Jan. 22--SADSBURY TOWNSHIP -- Smoke detectors are credited with saving a Conneaut Lake family from a Sunday morning house fire.

Firefighters were called to the Jeffrey and Rachel Lord residence, 10138 State Route 285, after the family awoke to smoke detectors going off around 2 a.m. and the one-story home filing with smoke, according to Chief Rusty Starcher of Conneaut Lake Park Volunteer Fire Department. The home, located about one mile west of the borough of Conneaut Lake, had at least two working detectors, he added.

The three adults and five children in the home all were able to get out safely with one girl exiting out a window, Starcher reported. "They all were a little shaken up, but everybody got out alright," he said.

The blaze was traced to an electrical short in a connection with microwave oven in the home's kitchen.

"The microwave wasn't in use. They had gone to bed several hours before," Starcher said.

Fire damage was confined to the kitchen, which was gutted by the blaze, he said. The rest of the home sustained heavy smoke damage and there was some water damage within the house, too.

The Lord family has insurance on the home.

Both the American Red Cross and other family members are assisting the family, Starcher said.

Conneaut Lake Park was assisted at the scene by Conneaut Lake, Fallowfield, Vernon Central, Summit, Township and Linesville volunteer fire departments along with Conneaut Lake Area Ambulance Service and Conneaut Lake Regional Police Department.

Firefighters returned to quarters at 5:16 a.m.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at [email protected].

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