House on Olds Ferry Road heavily damage in fire

The Weiser Area Rural Fire Department was busy on Friday responding to back-to-back calls for a car fire and a house fire.
 Firefighters were on their way to a vehicle fire at the Weiser Sand Dunes at about 3:30 p.m. when a house fire on Olds Ferry Road was reported just a few minutes later.
 While one wildland fire brush truck continued on to the sand dunes, another fire engine turned around at Eaton Road to respond to the house fire, assistant fire chief John Stuart said.
 Because the fire engine was already in the area, firefighters were able to respond to the burning home at 1117 Olds Ferry Road in minutes. The bottom floor of the house was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived on scene. Flames were coming out of the front of the older home and acrid smoke filled the air.
 A resident of the home was able to get out of the burning structure with no injuries, Stuart said.
 A mutual aid call went out to Weiser City Fire and Rescue for additional equipment, which brought an engine, water tender and a rescue vehicle with equipment capable of filling breathing apparatus for firefighters. Payette fire also sent a water tender.
 The home had been significantly remodeled in the past and it was difficult to get to the fire in the attic. The fire caused structural damage and that made it unsafe for firefighters to try to get to the fire from the roof, Stuart said.
 “It (fire) was hard to chase it through there,” Stuart said. “We spend a lot of time just putting out hot spots.”
 The home was severely damaged in the fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined. The state fire marshal is assisting WARFD with the investigation into the cause and was at the scene on Saturday.
 Rural fire crews were at the home until about 7:30 p.m. making sure there were no hot spots left. The rural fire department dispatched two engines, two water tankers and support vehicles to the fire.