Local

Frozen hydrant hampers firefighters in Catoosa blaze

A mom, dad, and a 12 year old daughter scurried out of bed early this morning when their home caught on fire.
It happened before 7 a.m. in Catoosa, just west of the  Hard Rock Casino.
The fire not only left the family without a home. 
It also caused a large backup of traffic on westbound I-44 as traffic slowed to look at the scene.
Catoosa Fire Chief Denus Benton told KRMG that this fire was tough.
"It got up in the attic and that always takes a little bit more effort." 
There was also a scary moment when the father came outside and couldn't find his wife or daughter.
"He went back inside to go find the daughter but the daughter and mom had come out the front door," Benton said.
Going back inside lead to an injury to the dad.
"He had a light burn to his arm," Benton noted as he pointed to the back door.
The extreme weather caused firefighters a problem even before they began working on the house.
"We had a fire hydrant that was frozen up down the street here. We had to turn around and make a long lay back to another hydrant. Those things are irritating but you have to adapt and overcome."
The cause of the fire is under investigation but it's believed to have started in the young girl's bedroom.
KRMG news talked briefly to the family as they sat in their car wearing pajamas and watched as the fire was put out.
"It's all we have left," the mom said, referring to the pajamas.
The family was renting the home and did not have renter's insurance.

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