Red Cross helping Burton family after fire heavily damaged their home on Wednesday
A home belonging to a family of four was heavily damaged by fire that broke out in the attic Wednesday morning in Burton, fire officials said in a press release.
Just before 11 a.m., a neighbor in Burton’s Polk Village neighborhood knocked on the homeowner’s door to tell them that there was smoke coming from their roof. Firefighters were able to put out a fire in the attic where they found “severe charring” to the insulation and rafters, both of which were signs the fire “had been building for a while,” officials said.
The American Red Cross is helping the family, consisting of two children and two adults, because they are unable to stay at the home due to structural damage and a loss of power to the house.
The cause of the fire Wednesday is still under investigation, said Assistant Chief Dan Byrne with the Burton Fire District. He recommended residents take a look at their attics for any signs of charring as part of routine home maintenance.
“Any time they’re in the attic for any reason, they should take the time to look around,” he said.
