The use of a home fire extinguisher is credited with helping to contain a chimney fire at a rural Trenton home.
According to information provided by Trenton Firefighter Derek Hert, the Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District was called to the home of Ed and Pam Johnston at 398 S.W. Elm Ln., at about 8:30 p.m. on Monday. When firefighters arrived, they found light smoke with smoldering embers inside the living room wall by the fireplace in the home. The homeowners had used a fire extinguisher to contain the fire until firefighters could fully extinguish the blaze. Firefighters used a water can extinguisher to fully extinguish the fire and used a reciprocating saw to remove charred lumber to check for any fire extension.
The report indicated that the cause of the fire was a cracked flue pipe that allowed heat from the wood stove to overheat the wood and insulation until it began to smolder and eventually caught fire.
There was moderate damage to one interior and exterior wall in the living room, with no other damage reported. Firefighters said the damage could have been more severe if the homeowners had not had a fire extinguisher and known how to properly use it.
The GCRFD was assisted by the Trenton Fire Department and the Grundy County Ambulance Depart-ment.
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