Myrtle Street House Fire Likely Caused by Faulty Electrical Wiring

A house fire that broke out in the 500 block of Myrtle Street Monday night was likely caused by improper electrical wiring, Stillwater Fire Chief Stu Glaser said.

The Stillwater Fire Department was called to a report of a structure fire at 6:06 p.m. March 18. Upon arrival fire crews reported fire in the walls in the second story of the home, Glaser said, and observed smoke coming from an electrical outlet.

Fire crews pulled hose lines to the second floor and began investigating the cause of the smell of smoke, the chief said. Firefighters cut the power to the home and removed the electrical outlet from the wall, where an active fire was burning.

Firefighters removed a section of the wall and found fire extension into several areas of the home. Crews extinguished the fire and performed property protection.

The fire was brought under control within 15 minutes. No one was injured as a result of the blaze, which caused about $35,000 in damages to the structure and personal property.

The fire was reported by a resident who smelled smoke and called 911, Glaser said. A resident of the building reported that several of the electrical outlets in the home where rnot working and an electrician had been called to work on the problem.

The caretaker of the residence, and the electrician, discovered the possible fire and the resident called 911.

A potential cause of the fire may have been improper electrical wiring.

Stillwater Police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center assisted Stillwater firefighters on the scene.