Lt. Josh Coil, East Liverpool Fire Department, works to save personal property during a fire in a John Street residence early Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy of East Liverpool Fire Department)

EAST LIVERPOOL — The A crew for the East Liverpool Fire Department had a busy shift between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning when they responded to two fires in a 14-hour period.

They responded to a car fire Tuesday afternoon and a house fire early Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were called out to a car on fire at Dave and Deb’s on Lisbon Avenue at 2:15 p.m.

According to Lt. Alex Estell, its is believed the car, a 2009 Dodge Avenger, was being driven to a car wash when the driver noticed smoke and pulled into the parking lot of the business and called 9-1-1.

Estell said the engine compartment of the car was engulfed in flames and the first engine on the scene used a booster line to extinguish the fire.

The fire was extinguished in under 10 minutes, Estell said.

Firefighters were called out again at 6:28 a.m. Wednesday morning. The first truck was on its way at 6:28 a.m. Due to the work on the 9th Street bridge, firefighters had to detour around the bridge to get to the residence in the 500 Block of John Street. They arrived on the scene at 6:33 a.m.

Firefighters observed smoke rising from the east side of the structure from the eaves of the second floor when they arrived.

Estell described it as a light smoke color.

The resident, who was in the home at the time but had made it out by the time firefighters arrived, told the first engine crew when they made their way into the residence that he saw the color of the paint changing in the bedroom and heard a large popping sound.

The crew used thermal imaging to find an electrical fire between the roof and an adjoining wall between two bedrooms. Crews stretched a handline attached to a hydrant into the second floor with the second crew which then started to open the ceiling and the wall and start to extinguish the fire using a watering can and an inch and three-quarter attack line.

Crews also observed a small glow through the ceiling tile.

A second alarm was issued to call in Fire Chief Antony Cumo and off duty firefighters.

The fire, which was contained to two bedrooms upstairs, was considered under control at approximately 6:49 a.m.

In addition to East Liverpool Fire Department the utility companies were called out to disconnect the gas and electricity.

Estell said the firefighters used a lot of salvage covers to protect as much of the personal belongings such as photos and family items in the home possible. It was a family home and the person who lived there had passed away a year to the day of the fire, so the firefighters were trying to protect a lot of the family’s mementoes and keep those things taken care.

Estell noted for them their procedure for salvage and overhaul is to remove the personal effects as much as possible and protect any furniture and belongings with the salvage covers which are rubberized tarps that shed the water away from the items while hitting hotspots and check for fire extension.

“Because of the great job they did, they were able to save mostly all of the family’s belongings,” Cumo said. “They save a lot of property by doing salvage operations while they were digging for the fire in the wall and attic.”

Firefighters cleared the scene and returned to the station where the personnel were released at 9:04 a.m.

The house, which was not declared a total loss, is not habitable at this time because of the utilities being shut off and since the fire was in the electric lines, the lines will have to be repaired before the electric company will reset a meter, Estell said. He put the damage estimate at approximately $30,000 due to minor smoke and water damage to the content of the house and damage to the walls where holes were punched to put the fire out.

“There was minimal property loss as far as belongings go,” Estell said. “The largest loss would be the electrical system as well as the damage to the walls and ceilings.”

Firefighters opened up the walls in two bedrooms and the ceilings to detect fire extension and gain access to the attic.

“We had two of our newest firefighters on this call and they both did a great job getting in and we were fortunate that we were able to get into the fire and get it done as quickly as possible with the work being done to the Pope Street water tower,” Estell said. “We did not have to call additional resources to bring in water and we were fortunate and glad that the homeowner is safe and uninjured.”

There were no injuries to anyone in the vehicle, the residence or to firefighters during either fire. The resident of the house was being assisted with living arrangements by other family members who were on the scene.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com