Marshall Fire Chief Kenneth "Buzz" Snyder said an afternoon house fire on Spring Street was caused by an electrical short.

"I had come home and warmed up my lunch and sat down on the couch," said Sharon Traylor, who lived in the home at 1205 Spring St. "When I sat on the couch, I turned, and the curtains were on fire."

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Snyder said a power strip with several items plugged into it was located below the front window and curtains where the fire originated. "It was definitely electrical failure," said Snyder. "But it's hard to tell which part of it caused the fire."

Firefighters were able to contain major damage to the front living area of the house. Moderate heat, smoke and water damage was found in other rear portions of the single-story frame house.

Ms. Traylor was able to escape without injury. No one else was at home or injured in the fire, Snyder said. "It was pretty scary," said Ms. Traylor. "Devastating."

She and her teenage son moved from Big Sandy into the rented home two years ago.

The house is owned by James A. Hodges, who lives next door and said it was constructed about 65 years ago.

Police and fire vehicles blocked traffic on Sanford and Spring streets for more than an hour as fire hoses were connected to nearby hydrants.