L'field PD officer sniffs out house fire while on patrol. His action, quick response by L'field FD save adjacent home.

A Leitchfield Police Department officer sniffed out an early morning house fire, likely saving the adjacent home from serious fire damage.

Saturday morning at approximately 4:30, Officer DJ Newton 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 open 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 likewise unable to make entry.

(With the help of Grayson Count Central Dispatch, it was soon determined that no one was in the structure.)

Leitchfield Fire Chief Tim 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 as the blaze made contact with the home only a few feet away.

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.

Duvall said it is unclear how the fire started but the investigation into the blaze continues.

There were no injuries reported and firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 6:00 a.m.

(Headline photo: The side and back of home fully engulfed)