The Herald-News - News Story

    A fire at a trailer home on Ridgeside Drive sent four people to the hospital Sunday morning.
    According to Rhea County fire investigator Chuck Kinney, no serious injuries resulted from the fire, however, the home suffered moderate smoke damage and the family will need some assistance with clothing and other household items.
    Kinney said a 5-year-old girl awoke around 7:30 a.m. Sunday to find her bed on fire.
    She ran from her bedroom and alerted Kathi Crum, who awoke the girl's mother, Regina Dyer, and B.J. and Steve Ortiz, who were also sleeping in the trailer home located at 308 Ridgeside Drive, he said.
    B.J. and Steve extinguished the burning bed with water and a fire extinguisher, Kinney said.
    Steve also yanked out an extension cord from an electrical outlet that was on fire behind the girl's bed, Kinney added.
    Firefighters were not dispatched to the home, as the occupants put the fire out and then transported themselves to the hospital.
    The 5-year-old, her 9-year-old sister, who was sleeping in the same bedroom, and B.J. Ortiz were treated at Rhea Medical Center for smoke inhalation. Dyer was also treated at the hospital. She received nine stitches to her leg, which was cut by an electrical panel cover that she accidentally slammed her leg against during the commotion, Kinney said.
    Kinney, who was called to the scene around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, said an overloaded extension cord caused the fire.
    The extension cord had a small space heater running at a low setting and a clock radio plugged into it, he said.
    Evidence at the scene indicated that the extension cord got hot and melted, and then ignited the young girl's mattress, he said.
    " It [the extension cord] was the weakest link," said Kinney. "If you have a malfunction, it's going to take out the weakest link."
    According to the fire investigator, space heaters are equipped with cords for which they are rated. Oftentimes, extension cords do not have the correct amperage to carry the power being drawn by a space heater and/or other appliances. This causes the cord to "overheat like a toaster," he said.
    Kinney ruled the fire an accident.
    Sara Withrow can be contacted at sara.withrow@rheaheraldnews.com