The house fire early Saturday morning on West Market Street in Leitchfield has been ruled arson by a Kentucky State Police Arson Investigator.
The blaze, which was discovered by Leitchfield PD Officer DJ Newton, caused extensive damage to the residence and came perilously close to inflicting major damage to the adjacent home.
No one was in the home when police and firefighters arrived on scene at approximately 4:30 a.m.
Leitchfield Fire Chief Tim Duvall said Tuesday that two mattresses, in separate rooms in the upstairs of the home, were set on fire. The arsonist[s], though, closed the door to one of the rooms, depleting the room of oxygen, putting out the fire and preserving evidence.
A third fire was started in the basement of the home by setting a pile of clothes on fire.
The home is a rental property.
The case is being handled by KSP Arson Investigator Steve Lowery. No arrests have yet been made.
The fire was sniffed out by Newton, who was on regular patrol in the 200 block of West Main Street, when he smelled something burning. He followed the odor to South English Street and then to West Market Street where he observed smoke coming from the home at 208 West Market.
Newton, who said the home “was obviously on fire,” and LPD Sgt. Keith Harrel, who quickly arrived on scene, beat on the front door of the house before kicking the door in as the two officers attempted to save the occupants.
Unable to make their way very far into the home because of incredibly dense smoke, the two officers then tried to enter through the rear of the residence, but were unable to make entry.
(With the help of Grayson Count Central Dispatch, it was soon determined that no one was in the structure.)
Duvall soon arrived, followed in short order by Leitchfield and Clarkson firefighters (along with EMS). Fire personnel concentrated on the now raging blaze in the back, right corner of the residence, as heavy flames were coming from windows on the side and back of the house, putting the adjacent residence in peril.
It took firefighters only a few minutes to bring the fire in the back, right corner of the home under control. But heavy smoke continued to pour from the structure, particularly from the roof. Firefighters responded by entering the residence and dousing the fire that permeated most of the home.
It took firefighters about an hour to completely put out the blaze. One side on the adjacent home suffered severe damage to the siding.
Firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 6:00 a.m.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
