OWENSVILLE —  Volunteer firemen from five communities joined forces in mutual aid response at 11:33 Friday morning to make a quick stop on a kitchen fire at a residence in the 1100 block of Highway 28 east of Bland.

Owensville and Belle firemen arrived first and were joined by Gerald-Rosebud firemen minutes later. Firemen from Vichy and Vienna also responded to the need for additional manpower, according to Owensville Fire Chief Jeff Arnold.

An issue with a microwave oven is believed to be responsible for the fire which caused minimal burn damage but extensive heat and smoke damage. Firemen were on scene until 1:29 p.m. Oct. 17.

The home’s occupants were not there at the time but reports Arnold received indicated the fire began within an hour of a resident leaving the dwelling, based on witness reports.

Arnold said the “balloon-frame” style of construction in the older home allowed smoke from what fire there was and to move upstairs through the walls.

“There was not a lot of flames, fire damage was minimal,” said Arnold. “It was a lot of heat and smoke damage.”

Smoke was coming out of the eaves beneath the roof-line when firemen arrive. Arnold said firemen entering the home worked their way to the kitchen in the back end of the dwelling and located the fire around a microwave oven. Homeowners told fire officials they had problems with the oven earlier in the week.

Neither of the primary residents were home at the time the fire was reported by a passing motorists. The homeowners had left the residence about 90 minutes earlier. Arnold said a witness had driven by the residence an hour earlier and saw no sign of smoke.

On a return trip through the area, the witness noticed smoke and called 911.

No injuries were reported although Arnold said firemen had to contend with red wasps which came out of the chimney and were apparently inside a vehicle engine sitting on a truck bed parked on the east side of the dwelling.

“At 10:30 a.m. there was no smoke. At 11:30 there was smoke coming out of the eaves,” said Arnold.