Community Corner

North Wales Apartment Fire Caused by Box on Stove

Preliminary investigation reveals a cardboard box on top of an electrical range caused a fire Wednesday evening

A cardboard box left on top of an electrical stove was the cause of a minor apartment fire Wednesday night at 320 Shearer Street, according to North Penn Vol. Fire Co. Chief Chris Park.

Fire crews responded to the fire a little after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The fire was knocked down quickly and the scene cleared by 8:45 p.m.

"The fire was on the top of a stove and it seems to be accidental," said Park.

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Park said no one was home in the apartment at the time of the fire. The brick home at 320 Shearer Street contains four apartments.

"The stove was an electrical surface and the box was on top," Park said. "The box caught fire."

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When asked if it was an electrical malfunction, Park said it is possible the box hit the knob on the stove when it was placed there.

Firefighters did pull the stove out of the kitchen of the apartment, located on the right side of the building.

Park said the renter did not arrive at the scene, but the owner of the property was present.

He said a cat that was inside the apartment was not harmed.

He said the apartment is uninhabitable and there was minor heat and smoke damage.

North Penn Vol. Fire Co., Fairmount Fire Co., Fire Department of Montgomery Township, North Wales Police and Fire Department of Montgomery Township Fire Polcie responded to the scene.


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