The home on Craggy Meadows Drive was in ruins Wednesday morning. (Gary Kerr photo)

Updated Wednesday, 3:54 p.m. A two-story home in Davidson’s River Run neighborhood was in ruins this morning as Davidson fire officials and the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s office tried to determine what caused a fire that destroyed the home Tuesday night. This afternoon, Davidson fire chief Jeff Almond said officials have determined it was accidental, starting in a flue leading from a first-floor fireplace.

The fire started around 10 p.m. Tuesday night.  Two firefighters were slightly injured but the home’s residents escaped safely, the chief said.

UPDATE: Brenda Barger’s Nov. 26, 2009 Around Davidson column provides an update on the family. CLICK HERE>

Also below, the week’s fire call log.

At 10:16 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to 18900 Craggy Meadows Lane after the homeowner, Robin Johnson, discovered fire in the attic of the 15-year-old, 2-story home. Mr. Johnson, his three children and their dog all fled quickly after the fire started.

The homeowners had a wood fire burning in a downstairs fireplace Tuesday night just before the fire started. According to the fire marshal’s report, “The cause was determined to be accidental, and had to do with the flue for the chimney downstairs,” Chief Amond said Wednesday afternoon. The fire marshal determined that the fire began in a concealed wall space when the fire in the fireplace ignited “structural members” from a metal chimney flue.

[Earlier in the day, Chief Almond had said the fire remained under investigation. At that time, he said although the fire was first discovered in the attic, it might have started elsewhere.]

Firefighters were back on the scene this morning to investigate. This morning, the roof was gone and only portions of the walls remained at the home, which is on a cul-de-sac off River Falls Drive.

A total of 10 companies from the Davidson, Cornelius-Lemley, Huntersville and Odell volunteer fire departments were at the scene until around 3:20 a.m., according to a preliminary report of the incident. A company from Mount Mourne provided backup for Davidson.

Chief Almond said two firefighters suffered minor injuries. One had a “particle in his eye,” while another “overheated,” he said. Both were treated at the scene.

See more details and photos, a reminder about another attic fire last week in River Run, and an update on the town’s plans for a second fire station on the east side of town, in our Tuesday night report, “Evening blaze destroys home in River Run.”

(Correction: This article has been updated to correct that only Robin Johnson and his children were home at the time of the fire. Wife Emily Johnson was away.)

FIRE CALLS

THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 9:16 p.m., I-77, near Exit 30 – Firefighters responded to a report of an odor of gas or propane. They investigated from Exit 25 north to Exit 31 and found no source. Contacted the Transco pipeline, Public Service of North Carolina and Piedmont Natural Gas. Call canceled.
FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 10:57 a.m., 100 Nelson Lane, Davidson College – Report of smoldering fire in a cigarette receptacle. Fire extinguished.
FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 11:46 a.m. – A Davidson fire unit moved to the Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire Department on South Main St., Cornelius, to cover while Cornelius responded to a structure fire. While there, they responded to 1 medical call.
FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 1:13 p.m., I-77 Southbound, Exit 25 – Davidson firefighters responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident. Call canceled enroute.
SUNDAY, OCT. 25, 1:46 a.m., 400 Jetton St. – Davidson police called in a report of a small pile of rubbish burning in the 400 block of Jetton. Firefighters put it out by 1:52.
SUNDAY, OCT. 25, 8:10 p.m., 223 Fairview Lane, St. Alban’s neighborhood – Report of a cooking fire. A bag of pretzels stored in the oven ignited while residents were cooking. It was out when firefighters arrived.
MONDAY, OCT. 27, 11:44 a.m., 409 Ridge Rd., Martin Court senior apartments, Davidson College – Two people were reported trapped in an elevator. Firefighters shut off and then restored power. That returned the car to normal operation, the doors opened, and the two people were freed.

MEDICAL AND RESCUE CALLS, OCT. 21-27

Following are the medical calls Davidson Fire Department responded to last week. The department says patient privacy laws prohibit public release of addresses or other details.

(Information unavailable Wednesday.)