A family's attempt to get rid of bats in the attic ultimately led to them fleeing their home after smoke filled the one-story, three-bedroom structure on Monday morning.
Clarendon Fire Chief Frances Richbourg said firefighters were called out to Brogdon Road, right off Plowden Mill Road, to a home after dispatchers reported a fireplace fire had put smoke throughout the entire house.
"We really thought when we got there, we'd be fighting an attic fire," said Richbourg. "So, we were thankful it was only smoke in the home and that it wasn't much worse than it was."
Richbourg said the family believed bats had taken up residence in the attic, and that the fire was set to get rid of the bats.
"The damper was shut, and all the smoke came back in the home," Richbourg said. "They didn't have fire damage, but they have smoke damage throughout the house, so that will have to be cleaned."
No one was injured, Richbourg said.
"Our first firefighters on the scene made sure they all got out safely so they wouldn't breathe in any smoke," she said. "We then ventilated the home to get the smoke out."
