Jackson firefighters douse a second residential fire

Jackson Hole Fire-EMS firefighters put out the town’s second residential fire in a week Friday.

The fire was reported at 5:52 p.m. at the Elk Run Townhouses complex. Fire Marshal Kathy Clay said the bottom floor of the unit’s living room was damaged, but the fire was located and suppressed within five minutes.

Clay said the fire was accidental. “It appears that ashes were put into a plastic garbage can filled with combustibles under a coffee table in the living room. The ashes contained enough heat to cause ignition.”

The first fire was reported in the Aspen Meadows apartment complex. It was caused by a laptop computer that overheated and caught some clothing on fire.

Clay is reminding all homeowners to make sure smoke alarms are operational. She said they should be placed in every bedroom and hallways outside of bedrooms and checked monthly.