Fire destroys home

July 1, 2009 - 11:09 PM

Tribune photo by Jill Treadway Hall
Battalion Chief Art Robertson removes a melted box fan from a house that caught fire late Tuesday night. The fire at 110 E. 14th St. in Seymour appeared to be an accident, Seymour Fire Chief Fred Hines said Wednesday.

A house fire destroyed a Seymour home late Tuesday night.

The house, owned by Jonny Hays at 110 E. 14th St., caught fire at 11:27 p.m. Tuesday, according to police.

Fire Chief Fred Hines said upon their arrival, firefighters found the back of the house was fully engulfed.

No one was home at the time of the fire, and no one was hurt.

Investigators searched the house Wednesday morning for clues as to what started the fire.

"We believe the fire was an accident and we believe it started in a clothing basket," Hines said. "The resident said he smokes, but he smokes outside. There were a lot of towels and things like that (in the laundry room)."

The house, which he said was estimated at $45,000, was destroyed. It is thought that Hays had $25,000 worth of contents, which were all destroyed, Hines added.