Fire displaces five in Lebanon

An early morning New Years Day fire at a city home displaced five people and caused at least $20,000 damage, a city fire official said.

City fire crews were called out to 226 E. Lehman St. at 5:37 a.m. Wednesday for a fire in the walls.

City Fire Commissioner Duane Trautman said the fire was caused by old wiring tied into new wiring. The fire started on the second floor and spread into the attic, he said.

He estimated damage at between $20,000 and $25,000. The fire commissioner said the fire caused extensive damage to the floor joists and flooring in the attic and framing on the second floor.

"There's a lot of work to be done (to repair it)," he said.

Two adults and three children lived in the rental property, Trautman said.

The cause of the fire was ruled accidental, the fire commissioner said.

Trautman said the property owner is expected to face charges because there were no smoke detectors inside the home.

The names of the property owners and the occupants of the home were not available Wednesday.

"Someone body happened to be awake (and noticed the fire). They're lucky to be alive," Trautman said.

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Fire displaces five in Lebanon