House fire injures one; is under investigation

One person was injured Wednesday night while attempting to search a house on fire at 1013 Western Ave.

Officers of the Orange Police Department were first to respond to a house on fire and reported there was a person injured on the scene.

The City of Orange Fire Department responded to the call around 7:40 p.m. The first fire units to arrive found a police officer with a person that was having difficulty breathing.

The person was passing by and noticed the home burning. He told firemen he entered the burning structure to search for people that may be trapped. The man suffered minor smoke inhalation. He refused transport to the hospital, but was treated at the scene by the Orange Fire Department and Acadian Ambulance Personnel.

Other arriving fire crews attacked the fire. 

A thorough search of the home found it to be unoccupied.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Jerald Ziller, fire units remained on the scene for over an hour to insure all the fire was extinguished. He said the cause of the fire is currently undetermined and is being investigated by the fire marshal.

Ziller warns people to never enter a burning structure. “If a fire is witnessed, call 9-1-1 immediately and answer the emergency dispatcher’s questions. Realize that properly trained and equipped responders are on the way.”

He admonishes, “Entering a burning structure can kill you and compound the emergency responders' efforts to rescue trapped people and extinguish the fire.”