An ordinary Sunday evening turned urgent for a family of three in the Buckingham subdivision when an unattended hot plate sparked a house fire. The incident, which occurred in their two-story residence on Sir Winston Place, has left the family temporarily without a home. According to the City of Franklin, the fire began when the family was downstairs, with the blaze originating from an upstairs bedroom.
Deputy Fire Marshal Jerry Thomas revealed the fire started with a scented candle left heating on an electric hot plate, which was placed on a dresser atop a placemat, as detailed by the City of Franklin. The popping and cracking sounds drew the family's attention, prompting a failed extinguishing effort involving a fire extinguisher and water before they evacuated. The quick response by firefighters, who arrived within four minutes, prevented further destruction. However, the lack of working smoke alarms in the home—a detail provided by Deputy Fire Marshal Thomas—underscored an alarming negligence that could've resulted in a far graver outcome.
In the wake of the incident, the Franklin Fire Department has reiterated the vital importance of working smoke alarms in every residence. The damage to the home was estimated at $10,000, and one of the residents encountered a minor injury while combating the flames, but was treated on the scene. Thankfully, no severe injuries were reported in the event.
