Christmas lights stapled to wall caused Kalamazoo house fire
the residents had stapled Christmas lights to the wall, damaging the cords and causing them to short out and spark, igniting the Christmas tree.
The fire spread from the tree to the attic.
The residents delayed calling 911 as they tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire themselves, which made the damage worse.
By John Tunison
jtunison@mlive.com
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A string of Christmas lights damaged by stapling caused a Kalamazoo house fire, authorities said.
The fire happened about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20 at a house in the 2200 block of Regent Street.
Firefighters arrived at the scene to find smoke coming from all sides of the house.
They found fire in the living room that had spread into attic areas.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the bulk of the fire.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Fire Marshal Jim Williams determined that residents of the home had stapled Christmas lights to a wall and damaged the outer jacket of the cord in the process.
The Christmas tree soon caught fire and flames spread to the attic.
Residents tried to put out the fire themselves before calling 911, officials said.
No one was injured and the occupants safely evacuated the house.
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House Fire at 2200 Regent St
December 20, 2017 by Jon Thurn
KALAMAZOO, MI: On December 20, 2017, at about 1145 AM, Kalamazoo Public Safety responded to the 2200 block of Regent Street for a house fire. Arriving officers found a single story, residential home with smoke coming from all sides. Officers learned that all the residents had evacuated. Officers initiated a simultaneous interior and exterior fire attack. Fire was found in the living room and attic areas. The bulk of the fire was extinguished quickly. Overhaul required officers to pull ceiling to find the last of the burning material.
Fire Marshall Jim Williams investigated the cause of the fire. He determined that the fire was electrical. The residents had stapled Christmas lights to the wall damaging the outer jacket of the cord. The fire quickly spread to the Christmas Tree and then to the attic. Additionally, residents delayed calling 911 to try and put the fire out by themselves. Fortunately, no one was injured as a result of the fire.
The fire is not considered suspicious and the investigation is closed by the Fire Marshall.
Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 337-8139 or Silent Observer at 343-2100.
Authority: Lt. Diaz
Date: December 20, 2017
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy. Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: Captain Victor Ledbetter, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety 337-8139