ORLEANS — A kitchen fire broke out at a rented home on High Street in Orleans on Friday evening after an unusual chain of events led to the blaze.
Orleans Fire Department was called to the scene at 7:58 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the house.
According to Orleans Fire Chief E. J. Rowell, the fire started in the kitchen-dining area after the family used a portable headlamp inside a chandelier during a power outage. The family left the house with the makeshift light still on. When power was restored while they were away, the headlamp started a fire in the chandelier that burned across the ceiling and upward.
The fire traveled into the ceiling, causing high heat conditions on the second floor that melted blinds and other items. The home sustained smoke, water and fire damage in that section of the house.
The family of four lost a dog in the fire. They rented the property from Tim Lahar.
It took about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control. Firefighters remained on scene for a couple of hours cleaning up hot spots. Newport City Fire Department provided mutual aid with their air trailer. Orleans Ambulance stood by, and Orleans Electric responded to the scene.
Chief Rowell said there was nothing suspicious about the fire. The home is repairable and was not a total loss.
