(QUINCY TOWNSHIP) – Here is a cautionary tale for barbeque chef’s. An unattended BBQ grill is being listed by Quincy fire officials as the cause of an accidental fire which destroyed a home at 654 Clarendon Road on Tuesday afternoon. The Quincy Fire Department says the blaze was reported at about 4:20 p.m..
Crews found heavy fire showing from the the rear of the single story Amish home when they arrived and flames were also going through the roof.
All of the occupants were immediately accounted for and unharmed.
Crews took an initial defensive fire attack to knock down the bulk of the fire before going inside.
Due to the extreme heat and the rural location, Allen, Coldwater and Litchfield firefighters assisted at the scene with water supply and firefighter rehab. Crews were rotated every ten minutes to prevent any heat related injuries.
The BBQ grill which caused the fire was at the rear of the home. Officials say the occupant walked away from cooking for a few minutes and by the time he had returned, the fire had already made its way up the exterior wall and into the attic space. The home and much of its contents are considered a total loss.
No injuries to any firefighters were reported. EMS crews attended to a woman with previous laceration wounds to her hands and evaluated an older gentleman for slight chest pains. Both were treated and released at the scene. Lifecare Ambulance, Quincy Police, the Branch County Sheriffs Deputies and the Branch County Victim Services Unit also assisted.
Barbeque handbooks recommend at least three feet of space be maintained between anything flammable and your barbeque grill
