A Fayette County family escaped without injury when their home on Forest Drive caught fire Monday night, according to Capt. Pete Nelms, spokesman for the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Nelms said that the fire at 2066 Forest Drive was contained to the bedroom where it apparently was started by an electric space heater. But smoke and water damage rendered the house "uninhabitable," Nelms said, so the American Red Cross was called in to take care of the family's immediate needs.

Firefighters from both FCDFES and the city of Fayetteville responded, he said, since the subdivision off Gingercake Road is in one of the "automatic mutual aid areas." The first unit arrived on the scene in four minutes, Nelms added, and firefighters were at the scene from 6:45 to 10 p.m. Damages were estimated at about $30,000.

"It was good to see the neighbors gathering to help the family stay warm and to comfort them," Nelms said, "but I think that's pretty typical of Fayette County people."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, he added.

JANICE DRIVE

Nelms also reported that the FCDFES has determined that the cause of a house fire at 605 Janice Drive on Jan. 10 was accidental. A Halogen light, left on to help keep the family dog warm, was the apparent source of the fire, he said.