Firefighters battle blaze on Kentucky Street

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Bowling Green firefighters were called to a house fire late this morning at 1253 Kentucky Street right behind the Kentucky Street apartments near campus.

The house had flames showing when officials arrived. Smoke billowed that could be seen for several blocks.

During the fire, dozens of onlookers from neighboring apartments and houses stood outside and watched the chaos ensue.

“It looked like rain, like a heavy rain at first because it was raining earlier but then it got really dark so we were pretty sure it was a fire. So we came outside and you couldn’t even see in this whole alley way out here on Kentucky Street,” said Cameron Hurt, a neighbor.

“The fire department has done a great job getting it put out and everything. They got it put out pretty quick because when I saw it about 10 minutes ago it was straight up in flames,” said CJ Hickman, a neighbor.

Fire officials even had to break windows out and use a chainsaw to make holes in the roof, according to the Bowling Green Fire Department’s Katie McKee.

“Sometimes the fire, it smolders, and they can see that. So they get up on the roof and they try to ventilate it so that they can try to extinguish the fire whenever the water can’t necessarily hit it,” said McKee.

“Its insane because I parked right in front of their house. I usually park here and one of the guys that lives there sits outside on the porch all the time and talks to me every now and then. It’s horrible, unexpected too,” said Anthony Roselli, a witness.

The area of Kentucky Street was closed for several hours this morning but has since reopened.

Officials have not stated whether or not it is a complete loss, but firemen broke out several windows, used a chainsaw to cut holes into the ceiling, and multiple walls were charred severely, all while the homeowner stood and watched.

Officials have not released the cause of the fire.