A Dittmer man and woman were treated for smoke inhalation after their house was damaged by a fire early on Sunday (Sept. 3). Two children also were in the home when the fire broke out, but they got out OK, said Assistant Chief Greg Shuster of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District.
At 5:51 a.m., after the family woke up to find their kitchen on fire, one of the two children, an 11-year-old, called 911. The fire damaged the home, 7414 Melody Hill Drive, displacing the family, Shuster said.
When firefighters arrived at 5:58 a.m., there was neither smoke nor fire visible at the home and three of the four family members were outside. The man, however, was inside the house “spraying the fire with water,” Shuster said.
“He had most of it out. There were some things still smoldering, and we removed them from the house,” Shuster said.
Big River Ambulance District personnel treated the two adults for minor smoke inhalation at the scene, he said.
“The fire was accidental,” Shuster said.
He said repairs will have to be made before the family can return to their home.
“There was a lot of fire damage in the kitchen area. There was smoke damage throughout the house,” Shuster said.
The American Red Cross was called to assist the family with emergency shelter, clothing and food.