Fire damages area home

An area home sustained heavy damage, but no one was injured, Saturday when a fire broke out in the two-story structure. 

The state fire marshal's office has been called in to inspect the scene, but preliminary reports do not indicate that the fire was intentionally set. 

The Paint Creek Joint Fire and EMS District responded to the report of a structure fire at 2823 Lyndon Road in Ross County. 

"When they arrived on scene, the house was fully involved," said Chief Bradley George. "The house was unoccupied at the time."

George said that the residents were out of town when the fire began. 

Approximately 24 firefighters from four departments responded to the fire, according to George. Paint Creek received mutual aid from Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, Highland County North Joint Fire and Ambulance District out of Leesburg, and the Wayne Township Fire Department out of Fayette County. 

"The structure sustained heavy damage, but the fire was contained to the back of the house in the kitchen area, and the floor above it," George said. "Our guys made a heck of a stop on it. There is extensive damage, but there is a lot that could be salvageable in the front." 

A cause of the fire has not yet officially been determined. 

"Due to the fact that the homeowners were out of state, the state fire marshal's office was called in," George said. "He hasn't made a determination yet, but it does not appear to be intentional. It could possibly be ruled as mechanical."