SALEM — A fire started by a water bed heater left a Centerville Drive home unlivable.
About 5:50 a.m. yesterday, neighbors of 26 Centerville Drive called firefighters, reporting smoke and flames coming from a second-floor bedroom of the house.
The residential street was closed off early yesterday morning while firefighters put out the blaze. It took about an hour to get the fire under control, according to Assistant Chief Paul Parisi.
The fire damage was limited to the bedroom, while less significant smoke damage spread to more areas in the house.
"There was an aggressive interior attack, which managed to hold the major damage to that room," Parisi said.
Fire Lt. Fred Doucette, who lives on a nearby street, ran to the fire from his house to find its two occupants and their two cats had already exited the home. No one was hurt in the fire.
Fire officials have determined the cause of the fire was an electric heater on a water bed in the room. The bed had been emptied, but the heater had not been turned off, Parisi said. The fire was unintentional, he said. The home's occupants are staying with relatives for the time being.
According to Vision Appraisal, the home is owned by Bruce and Beverly Clark. Its appraised value is $271,500.
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