Electrical problem blamed for Sunday afternoon blaze
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Gaffney firefighters extinguish a hot spot in the attic Sunday afternoon while fighting a fire at 313 Second Avenue.

Gaffney fire investigators suspect an electrical problem sparked a fire Sunday afternoon at a Gaffney residence.

The fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m. in the home of Robert Haney at 313 Second Ave.

Haney was watching television when he went into the kitchen area and turned on the stove, said Capt. Robert Grigg of the Gaffney Fire Department.

"When he turned on the stove, he (Haney) heard popping noises," Grigg said. "He went to the breaker box and discovered it was on fire."

The fire had spread to the attic area by the time firefighters from the Gaffney, East Gaffney and Overbrook stations arrived. Haney's residence is located across from the Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church Family Life Center.

"We were able to contain the fire to the attic area," Grigg said. "We were able to bring the fire under control within 30 minutes."

Firefighters remained on the scene until 7:43 p.m. to extinguish hot spots in the attic and the back of the house, Grigg said. The house sustained extensive water damage to several rooms.

While he was unable to give any damage estimate, Grigg said an electrical problem is the likely cause of the fire.