A candle inadvertently left burning is being blamed for a house fire in Winfield early this morning that heavily damaged the home and sent a family scrambling to escape.
No injuries were reported. The homeowners did have working smoke alarms, according to Fire Marshal Chad Mayberry, but were awakened by their dog and discovered the fire.
Around 12:25 a.m. Tuesday, Winfield Fire and EMS were dispatched to report of a house fire at 105 N. College. The report indicated there was a considerable amount of flames visible and occupants had evacuated through a second story window onto the roof over their porch.
Fire crews arrived and found that the family had lowered themselves and their toddler to the hood of a pickup truck parked next to the house and jumped to the ground. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, however the house suffered significant damage.
Online Cowley County land records show the home is owned by Taylor and Natalie Bennett.
The fire was concentrated in the living room area of the house and extended to the bedrooms at the front of the house on the second floor. The remaining areas of the home had a considerable amount of heat and smoke damage, Mayberry said.
Arkansas City Fire/EMS, Burden Fire Department, and Udall Fire Department each responded through an automatic aid agreement and assisted with extinguishing the fire.
The dog did not escape the house as the family did and did not survive.
“I’m not sure if (the family) would have made it out in time if the dog had not woken them up,” Mayberry said.
College Street was blocked by fire trucks and officers with the Winfield Police Department assisted at the scene with traffic control.
The Winfield Fire/EMS Department does have a program to provide and install free smoke alarms to those in need of them. They ask that if you are in need of smoke alarms, please contact them at 620-221-5560 and we will make arrangements to install smoke alarms in your home.