Fire hits Fruitland home

A fire that began in a garage Tuesday afternoon destroyed the kitchen and living room of a home in Bella Vista Lake subdivision near Fruitland.

Firefighters found the garage and part of the attached home at 1020 Bella Vista Drive fully engulfed in flames when they arrved, said Fruitland Fire District chief Dean Riley. A firefighter who lives nearby was able to help direct crews as they arrived, helping save a neighboring home that was in danger, Riley said.

The neighboring home escaped with only minor damage to the exterior siding, he said.

The owner of the home, Mike Scamell, was treated at the scene for burns but did not require hospitalization, Riley said. Both the owner and his wife were home when the blaze began.

Other rooms in the house escaped fire damage but did suffer from heat and smoke, Riley said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation as firefighters cleaned up after attacking the blaze, Riley said. The Fruitland firefighters received mutual aid from the Millersville and East County fire departments, he said.