An electrical malfunction inside a heated dog house was the apparent cause of a structure fire at 1430 Harwood Drive, off Brookfield Drive, Friday night.
Oxford firefighters were called to the scene at 9:29 p.m. after a resident across Mickelson Lake spotted the burning wooden deck behind the Harwood home, according to Fire Chief Jack LeRoy.
LeRoy said it appears some type of electrical malfunction occurred with either the lightbulb or electric heating pad inside the dog house located beneath a three-level wooden deck.
The dog escaped the fire on its own and was uninjured. No one was home at the time of the blaze.
Oxford’s first engine arrived on scene at 9:35 p.m. and firefighters had the blaze under control by 9:52 p.m.
LeRoy said the deck sustained significant fire damage and will have to be replaced along with siding on the western portion of the home that melted from the heat.
The chief estimated $25,000 worth of property damage was sustained plus another $5,000 for clean-up costs. The house itself is occupiable.