A Franklin Street home sustained heavy damage to its front half as a result of an afternoon blaze in Marietta Wednesday.
Three pump trucks and emergency squads from the Marietta Fire Department responded to the blaze, which took place at approximately 3 p.m. at 231 Franklin St.
"The front of the building is heavily damaged and the cause of the fire will be under investigation," said Marietta Fire Chief C.W. Durham.
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Marietta Fire Capt. Marc Coppernoll, left, and Fire Chief C.W. Durham, right, look over the scene of a house fire at 231 Franklin St. in Marietta Wednesday afternoon. The home sustained heavy damage to the front half.
Officials from the state fire marshal's office were called to determine the cause of the fire, said Marietta Police Sgt. Len Ritchie. The state fire marshal is expected to be in Marietta this morning to begin the investigation into the blaze.
Marietta firefighters had the blaze under control in roughly 20 minutes, and the department had about eight people initially respond to the scene. The fire was controlled by the eight firefighters that first responded, and all told Marietta had 14 people on scene, Durham said.
When firefighters responded to the scene the building was full of smoke, and flames were shooting from second story windows. Some small flames remained along the porch overhang a few minutes later.
"Structurally, it's pretty severe damage to the house," Durham said. "They were able to save quite a few of the contents."
Marietta firefighters continued to battle hot spots, but had the fire essentially out an hour after the call.
The heaviest damage to the home was to the front porch and attic area of the home, Durham said.
"What is done is pretty much what was done when we showed up," Durham said.
Less than three hours after the initial call, residents of the home were able to enter the building and begin collecting their belongings.
Televisions, computers, golf clubs and clothing were all able to be salvaged from the home as well as some smaller furniture such as dressers and end tables.
Officials from American Electric Power were on scene to disconnect the power to the building.
The two-story duplex was the home of Amy and Courtney Somerville on the first floor, and Pat Messick, 43, lived on the second floor.
Messick was not in the home at the time of the blaze.
Both the Somervilles were in the home at the time of the blaze, but did not sustain any injuries.
"Some man ran in and told us that our house was on fire," Amy Somerville said.
Allen Weaver, of Ohio 550, Marietta, said he issued the warning after he saw the fire while driving by.
Weaver said he attempted to put out as much of the fire as he could by stamping it out with a blanket and he tried to locate a water hose but was unsuccessful in his efforts.
"I wish I'd had a fire extinguisher in my truck, but I didn't," Weaver said. "It's just bad when you see it happen and you can't do anything about it."
The fire appeared to center around the southeast corner of the home, where Amy Somerville said a bedroom and living room were located on the first floor.
The two sisters moved into the home, which is a rental property, in January of this year.
Silverheels Property Management LLC, located on Third Street in Marietta, was responsible for renting the home.
Courtney Somerville had a cat that resided in the home, and firefighters were able to rescue it from the residence safely, Durham said.
"Contain it (fire) and make sure everybody is out safely. That's our two main goals," Durham said.
The Franklin Street home is the sixth home in the Harmar area to have caught fire since 2008 and the fifth on Franklin Street.
Previous fires occurred at 138 and 140 Franklin St., 106 Franklin St., 997 Gilman St. and 407 Franklin St.
Conor Morris contributed.
