By Amy Joles (Contact / Staff Bio)
June 10, 2009 - 08:41 a.m. EST

CARO — An overloaded electrical circuit in the kitchen of a Caro home is being blamed for about $20,000 in fire and smoke damages.

Caro firefighters responded to the fire, located at 162 W. Gamble St., between M-81 and Hooper Street, at 4:25 p.m. Monday.

The tenant of the home, Raymond Vargo, reported the fire.

“He was outside on his phone and when he went in, the house was filled with smoke,” said David Mattlin, Caro Fire Chief.

Caro firefighters were assisted by Fairgrove firefighters in extinguishing the blaze.

“The kitchen was destroyed and there’s quite a bit of smoke damage throughout,” said Mattlin.

The home is owned by Gregory Bringard, who leased the property to Raymond and Michelle Vargo. Nobody was injured during the incident and firefighters cleared the scene in an hour and a half.