Paving crew member helps put out fire

Quick thought helped keep a house fire from destroying a home this week.

A crew member repaving MacArthur Avenue in Ashland is credited for calling in a fire Wednesday afternoon and helping put out the flames.

The unidentified crew member saw the flames at 622 MacArthur Avenue in Ashland and reported the fire at around 2:40 p.m., Ashland Fire Chief Stuart Matthias said. No one was home at the time, so after calling 911, the crew member grabbed the homeowner’s hose and helped calm the flames until the fire department arrived.

Firefighters arrived a couple minutes later and were able to put out the fire by 2:54 p.m., Matthias said.

Matthias believes the fire started due to a chemical reaction between the liquid fertilizer and potting soil in a small raised garden bed beside the house that was ignited by the sunlight. The flames spread up the siding and into the attic above the garage and living room, he said.

The house is still livable. No injuries to people or pets were reported. The Washburn and Mason fire departments, Ashland Police, and Ashland County Dispatch all assisted to make this a positive outcome, Matthias said.