Fire was reported on Saturday afternoon at a home at 190 Bobbie Avenue while severe storms passed through the area.
Emergency personnel responded around 6:30 PM Saturday. The victim said he was sitting in the living room, saw a flash from lightning, and then heard a sizzling sound.
The victim looked around outside to make sure nothing was hit by lightning and saw an orange glow coming from a bedroom in the home. He walked back into the house and a female resident who had been sitting in the kitchen smelled smoke.
The man then grabbed a fire extinguisher and went to the bedroom to see the bed was on fire. The victim extinguished the bed, then called 911. He helped the other resident out of the home and went back to the bedroom. When he returned, the fire had reignited and the victim exited the home to wait on emergency responders.
Most of the fire damage was contained to the bedroom, with damage estimated at $30,000. A cat was found deceased inside the home.
An investigation showed the fire appeared to have started around an electrical outlet close to the bed. There were reportedly paper and cardboard products stacked in front of it, allowing the fire to extend from the wall to the bed.
The Greeneville, Debusk, Orebank and Caney Branch Fire Departments all responded to the scene, along with the Debusk Rehab Unit, American Red Cross and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
