Columbus firefighters say that a working smoke alarm saved a family in an early morning fire Sunday on Hutchins Avenue.

The resident of the rental home in the 600 block of Hutchins Avenue was woken by the smoke alarm and discovered flames coming from the son’s bedroom. She gathered her 13-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter and they escaped the burning building and called 9-1-1. Firefighters arrived to fight the fire in the rear bedroom from the outside. Once that was knocked down and firefighters moved inside, they discovered more flames in a bathroom.

No one was injured. The damage to the bathroom and bedroom was extensive and firefighters estimate damages at about $40,000. The resident and her family have been displaced and made arrangements for temporary lodgings. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, stressed the importance of having working smoke alarms.

Columbus firefighters battled a home fire Sunday in the 2600 block of Wedgewood Drive.

The homeowners reported flames coming from the attic at about 11:48 a.m. Sunday morning and firefighters discovered a heavy fire at the rear of the home, consuming a stack of firewood and climbing the exterior wall to the attic. Firefighters knocked down the exterior flames and then removed siding to get at the fire in the attic. Firefighters also removed part of the ceiling inside to check for any hidden fires.

Damages are estimated at $55 thousand dollars with both smoke and water damage in the living area. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but firefighters say the family’s trash Toter and the firewood both were in the area of ignition.

The family has arranged for temporary housing.

Indiana now has 11,210 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 577 cases since yesterday, and has had 562 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 17 deaths from Saturday’s numbers.

The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting that Bartholomew County has 136 confirmed cases an increase of 5 cases since yesterday. There have been 6 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, unchanged since last week. There have been 977 Bartholomew County residents tested with 691 negative results and 107 tests still pending.

In other area counties, Decatur has 168 cases and has had 18 deaths, an increase of 1 death since Friday. Jennings 64 cases and the county has had its first death, Jackson 90 cases and no deaths, Brown 14 cases and 1 death, Johnson 411 cases and 32 deaths, and Shelby 105 cases and 4 deaths, an increase of 1 death.

Indiana now has 10,154 total cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 642 cases since yesterday, and has had 519 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 42 deaths from Thursday’s numbers.

The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting that Bartholomew County has 130 confirmed cases, up by 14 cases from yesterday’s report. There have been 6 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, an increase of one. There have been 935 Bartholomew County residents tested with 650 negative results and 113 tests still pending.

In other area counties, Decatur has 165 cases and has had 17 deaths, an increase of 3. Jennings 63 cases and no deaths, Jackson 77 cases and no deaths, Brown 14 cases and 1 death, Johnson 371 cases and 30 deaths, and Shelby 97 cases and 4 deaths, an increase of 1 death.

The first death from COVID-19 in Indiana came on March 16th. For the entire 2019-20 flu season, from the first flu death in early October, until now, there have been 121 deaths from influenza in Indiana. In 2017, the worst year of the past 10 years for motor vehicle crash fatalities, Indiana had 911 deaths in crashes, or about 75 a month.

Columbus police say a man was driven from a home at gunpoint after he barged in and attacked a resident last night.

A family was at home in the 3000 block of 32nd Street at about 9 p.m. last night when a man came through the door and attacked the husband, pinning him to the floor. The resident got away, grabbed a handgun from the bedroom and ordered the attacker to leave.

Police arrived and saw 30-year-old Tyler J. Wells leaving the home. He attempted to fight with officers as they arrested him and he appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance, police report.

After being checked out at Columbus Regional Hospital, he was taken to jail on preliminary charges of residential entry, resisting law enforcement and public intoxication.

Columbus firefighters believe a bird’s nest might have sparked a fire that did $70,000 in damage to a home last night on the east side of Columbus.

Columbus firefighters were called to the 5200 block of Norway Court at about 9:26 p.m. last night after residents noticed a fire had ignited on their front porch. When firefighters arrived, members of the family including , Stephen and Linda Alis,  an adult daughter and a grandson, had escaped and a heavy fire was burning around the front door and garage. Although those flames were knocked down, firefighters discovered the blaze had spread to the attic, which was also extinguished.

Family members told firefighters that a small bird’s nest had recently been built in the porch light area. The family has been displaced by the fire and they are being assisted by The Salvation Army.