Brackenridge house fire contained

A small electrical fire that erupted Saturday at 1056 Third Ave. put a damper on the homeowner's plans to enjoy her week off.

But if not for quick work by a borough police officer, it could've been worse, said Pioneer Hose Fire Chief Rick Jones.

Jones said an electrical malfunction sparked the blaze that damaged the second floor of Sue Cranmer's two-story, frame house.

Cranmer and her grown son were home at the time but made it out safely.

Cranmer said she noticed smoke coming from a closet in one of the bedrooms on the second floor and called 911.

Shortly afterward, borough police officer Michael Duffy arrived and did what he could to knock down the blaze with a fire extinguisher, police said.

Duffy couldn't be reached by phone after his shift ended Saturday.

Jones credited Duffy with preventing the fire from doing severe damage to the house.

"Police used a fire extinguisher on it first," the chief said. "When we arrived, we hit it with a couple squirts of water and had it knocked out."

Jones said he was certain the fire was accidental but planned to have an Allegheny County fire marshal investigate.

Cranmer, a Valley News Dispatch district sales manager, said she was looking forward to a week's vacation. Now, she said, she'll spend that time assessing the damage and cleaning the house.

Cranmer said minimal damage was done to her home, which she's owned for about 10 years. However, she said she was worried about personal effects she had upstairs that held sentimental value.

"I do have insurance," she said. "I guess that's one good thing."