UPS driver calls 911 after noticing smoldering cord during first delivery of his shift

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP – A UPS driver on the first delivery of his shift Thursday morning called 911 after noticing an electrical cord smoldering inside the garage of an unoccupied residence on Dessecker Drive NE.

Tyler Cargnel, who has been driving for UPS about six years, said he noticed the smoke and called 911. "It got hard to breathe in there with all the smoke," he said.

At 10:49 a.m., Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Department dispatchers called for a structure fire response from Mineral City, Fairfield Township, Bolivar, Sherrodsville and Smith Ambulance. The first to arrive was K-9 Deputy Chris Edwards, who immediately put the fire out with a fire extinguisher from his cruiser.

"It was good the homeowners got a package today, or this could have been a lot worse," Edwards said.

The homeowners were away at the time.

No injuries were reported, and damage was contained to minimal burn marks to the riding mower and one extension cord.

T-R staff photographer Andrew Dolph can be reached by phone at 330-289-6072, or by email at adolph3@gannett.com . You can also find him on Instagram @dolphphoto .

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: UPS driver calls 911 after noticing smoldering cord during first delivery of his shift