CARLISLE, Ohio --
For a town like Carlisle, the fire at a house on Meadowlark Drive on Monday morning was a big one.
When it reached two alarms, five neighboring departments came to help put out the flames, but Carlisle's fire department wasn't one of them.
On the way here, I saw the big plume of smoke and asked the dispatcher what units were responding, and they said just myself and my engine, said Capt. Tony Abston of the nearby Franklin fire department.
News 5's Karin Johnson said that the volunteer department did not send any trucks to the fire, which caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Abston said Carlisles all-volunteer department often sits out fires within its city limits.
If they're here, they're here, if they're not, they're not, -- we're here to do a job, Abston said.
The situation frustrated homeowner Anita Walters, who said her living room could have been saved if Carlisle firefighters had shown up, because their department is only a mile from her house.
For the city of Carlisle, you not being here, you should've and people should get out and say something because their home could be next, said Walters.
Franklin's fire chief told Johnson that his department usually responds to fires in Carlisle anyway, because Carlisle's department is so small.
Firefighters said it appeared that the fire started in the garage, then spread throughout the home.
Three people escaped without injury.
Carlisles fire chief was out of town Monday, and the department is made up entirely of volunteers.
The city manager told News 5 that getting those volunteers to respond can sometimes be a challenge, because they all work other jobs during the day.
I'm concerned and want the chief to look into this to see if we can improve the situation, said city manager Brad Townsend. We want to respond to every call that comes into here.
Voters will decide next month on a 2.5-mil levy that Townsend said could alleviate some problems, by adding extra pay incentives for volunteer firefighters.
