Grill fire ignites Russellville house Thursday

A hotdog cookout Thursday ended with the Russellville Fire Department being called to the scene of a house fire.
Just before 7 p.m. July 27, the RFD responded to a structure fire on Sockwell Avenue in Russellville. Fire marshal Justin Green said they found the fire had been caused by the home’s occupants grilling too close to the house.
“The grill was right underneath the covered porch and almost directly against the house, almost touching the house,” Green said. “The guys made a great stop, but the fire never would have started if the renter had not been grilling so close to the house.”
Green said the renters first tried to put the fire out with a garden hose but finally had to call for emergency assistance.
“There were no injuries; everyone got out safe,” Green said. A newer addition to the house, not the main structure, was the only part damaged. “The rest of the house was fine, but we had to pull the power … A family of four are now displaced from their home.” Green said the American Red Cross is assisting the family with housing and other needs.
Green said it’s been maybe a year since the RFD has had to respond to this type of fire.
“I cannot stress enough for people not to grill within 10 feet of their houses or apartments,” Green said.
Fire Chief Joe Mansell agreed and said this was a prime example of why grilling near a house is so dangerous.
“Anytime you grill, you definitely need to have the grill a little way from the house,” he said. “Especially if you have an overhang (such as a covered porch), that can create problems. You have the potential of the flames getting up to the ceiling above.”
Mansell commended RFD firefighters for a job well done in extinguishing the fire.
“The main thing is that nobody was hurt.”