Fire Marshal Ted Anderson and Firefighter Dan Howell sift through rubble near the fire’s origin point

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The Martinsville Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that caused heavy damage to a residence located at 33 Dunlap Street early this morning. The home is owned by Mr. Steve Martin, age 67, who was awake when the fire broke out. Martin was able to leave the residence unharmed and call for emergency help using a cordless telephone. Mr. Martin is the only resident of the home. Fire & EMS crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3:00 a.m. The fire was intense in the basement of the residence with smoke filling the remainder of the structure. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze without further injuries or incident. The flames were mostly contained to the basement area. However, there was some direct fire damage to the main level and extensive smoke damage throughout the home. The damage is estimated at $75-80,000, but investigators indicated this is only an estimate; the final amount could be higher. The home is reported to have insurance, but this has not been confirmed.
The victim, Steve Martin, stated that he heard two loud pops and crackling noises just before the fire became visible. Martin says he searched throughout the residence until he discovered a bright glow coming from the ceiling of the basement, near the rear of the home. At this point, Martin fled the residence and called for help.
The area where Mr. Martin reported seeing the glow is believed to be the origin point of the fire. This is a space between the ceiling of the basement and the floor of an upstairs bedroom. The cause of the fire has not been determined at this time; investigators believe it is accidental in nature.
The Martinsville Fire Department reminds area residents to check their smoke detector batteries frequently and replace any smoke detector that is more than ten years old. Free smoke detectors are available through both the Martinsville Fire Department and the Henry County Public Safety office. To get one, call 403-5325 in the city or 634-4660 in Henry County.

Firefighters gather and examine evidence

An exterior view from the front of 33 Dunlap St.