By Becky Robinette Wright

Tones sounded on Jan. 10 at 12:57 p.m. dispatching Engines 1, 17, 14, Truck 14, Medic 1, TSO and Battalion 2 for a porch on fire at the 4900 block of Lippingham Drive.

The call quickly escalated to heavy fire showing and three residents were home.

Added to the call were Battalion 1, Engines 18,11 and Medic 15.

High winds fanned the flames and the fire overtook the structure in minutes.

One male resident his escape route cut off, jumped from the residence to safety.

An off-duty police officer, identified by officials as Nathan Almond who lives near the residence, assisted the family with escaping while firefighters were en-route.

Master stream operations doused the blaze.

The family dog did not survive.
Officials said the cause of the fire was started by a malfunctioning electrical heating pad that was in a plastic cat carrier on the front porch.