An electrical short appears to have been the cause of a fire late this (Tuesday) morning, in Atlantic. Firefighters were called to 803 Mulberry Street at around 11:19-a.m., after the home owner reported coming from the walls. Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees said when he arrived, heavy smoke was coming out of the west end of the residence along the roof line, and Carl Knutsen and his wife were on their way out of the home. Knutsen told officials he had been working on an electrical outlet in the bathroom when they heard a “pop,” and noticed smoke in the upstairs area of the two-story home.

803 Mulberry St. (Ric Hanson/photo)

McNees said they made their initial attack on the fire and got it contained to an area in the back of the home. He says they’re not quite sure where the electrical short occurred, but it was definitely in some of the wiring. McNees said there was a lot of structural damage to several rooms in the home and smoke damage to the upstairs area. Knutsen and his wife escaped the home without injury and were being sheltered in a neighbor’s home. The Red Cross was also helping the couple with temporary living arrangements and other needs.

The fire was declared under control just before Noon. McNees said the conditions for fighting the fire were much different than the blaze they fought Monday, that destroyed a home northeast of Atlantic. Firefighters braved sub-zero temperatures and a minus 30 below wind chill during that event. He said the weather today was “Balmy compared to yesterday,” but they still had to be concerned about hoses freezing and  icy conditions, especially for firefighters who were on the roof.

The temperature during today’s (Tuesday’s) fire was about 12-degrees above zero, with much lower wind speeds.