COLUMBUS (WCMH)– Columbus Fire Chief Steve Martin has confirmed one person is dead after a single-family residence caught fire Friday morning.
Crews were called to the 1400 block of Republic Avenue just after 4:25am.
The 57-year-old male victim, later identified at Aaron Washington, was found in his kitchen. The Columbus Division of Fire says the man may have been trying to get an extinguisher. The fire department urges anyone to get outside and stay outside in case of a fire.
Investigators say the fire started in an upstairs bedroom and “was caused by electric current running through a pinched extension cord under the bed.”
Officials say one firefighter was injured in the incident and taken to the hospital. He was injured while breaking down the front door. He is expected to be OK.