A cigarette ignited a fire that caused $100,000 damage to a home in Marietta on Friday night, an official said.
The owner of the home at 139 W. Fairview Ave., Wayne Coppersmith, was smoking a cigarette in a bedroom and fell asleep, said Trooper Brian Herr, a state police fire marshal.
"The cause of the fire was accidental, most likely from smoking," he said. "The fire started in a bed."
Coppersmith awoke to the smell of smoke and he and Patti Davison, who was downstairs, got out of the home safely on their own and called 911, Herr said.
None of their children were at home at the time of the fire.
Coppersmith and Davison saved cats and an iguana, but a dog died in the 10:13 p.m. blaze, Marietta Fire Company Chief Glenn Orr said.
Firefighters arrived to heavy smoke and flames spewing from a second-floor window, he said. They used two hand lines to attack the blaze from inside and outside the home.
About 50 firefighters from area departments contained the fire to one room and brought it under control in about a half hour. No one was injured fighting the blaze, he said.
Coppersmith suffered smoke inhalation and a minor cut on the arm, Orr said. He was treated at the scene and did not require medical transport. Davison was not hurt.
The second floor of the home was extensively damaged, he said. Damage was estimated at $70,000 to the structure and $30,000 to its contents.
The fire displaced the family, who will be staying with relatives, Orr said.
