SMITHFIELD – A Smithfield home was damaged by flames. Tuesday night, Smithfield, Selma and Wilson’s Mills Fire personnel responded to a house fire at 27 Pinecrest Street, off N. Brightleaf Boulevard.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze but the home sustained considerable damage.
The Smithfield Fire Marshal and Johnston County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to investigate the cause of the fire.
Johnston County Fire Marshal Ryan Parker said the fire started in an outside utility room attached to the house. The fire started because a heat lamp had been placed too close to combustibles being used to keep the water lines to a washing machine from freezing during the cold weather.
“Caution should be used when utilizing supplemental heating methods within and around our homes,” Fire Marshal Parker said. “Combustible materials should be kept no less than 3 feet away, in all directions, from space heaters. Space heaters should also be plugged directly into an outlet and protected by a circuit breaker.”
“When using a heat lamp, the appropriate supports should be utilized to prevent the lamp from tipping or falling and the area should be clear from combustible materials.”
Parker added, “Smoke alarms should be tested monthly to ensure their operability.”
Anyone with questions about fire safety can contact the Johnston County Fire Marshal Division at 919-989-5050.
In Tuesday night’s fire, three people and three pets were displaced. Luckily, there were no injuries. The family is being assisted by the Red Cross.
