By SANDY McGEE

CUMBERLAND — Firefighters battled freezing temperatures early Monday morning as they responded to a minor house fire on Broad Street. No one was injured in the incident.

Firefighters responded to a two-story duplex, located at 566 Broad St., on Monday around 2:30 a.m. A smoke detector in the basement alerted a female occupant to the fire, who immediately called for help.
“It was a small fire,” said Valley Falls Fire Chief Brian Jackvony. “It was put under control in about a half hour. There was minor fire damage, minor water damage and moderate smoke damage.”
Despite the damage, the house’s occupants were able to return home. The duplex in the Valley Falls section of town is a dwelling for two families.
“They were able to occupy the building,” Jackvony said.
Temperatures during the pre-dawn hours on Monday were reported to be in the teens.
“It was very cold,” said the fire chief. “We had to deal with the ice on the roads and sidewalks. The state assisted with a sand truck.”
Three children, who resided in the duplex, were transported to a relative’s house instead of waiting out in the cold.
According to fire officials, the blaze originated from a malfunction in the fireplace.
“The tenant apparently used the fireplace all day on Sunday,” Jackvony said. “There was a defect in the mortar, which caused the embers to drop down to the floor joist. Then, they caught fire to the floor joist.”
The fire chief recommends that all residents have their chimneys and woodstoves inspected by a professional prior to use, as well as frequently check smoke detectors.
Broad Street was temporarily closed on Monday morning during the incident. Responding to Monday’s blaze were all of the town’s fire districts, as well as personnel from the Saylesville Fire Department.