An Ironton couple is safe this morning after a fire damaged their house late Monday night.

The Ironton Fire Department was called to the Billy and Juanita Cade residence at 1825 S. Second St. at 11:11 p.m., said Ironton Fire Capt. Craig Thomas. Initial reports were that the Cades were trapped inside but Thomas said both Cades managed to escape the blaze safely.

“Mr. Cade had just gotten out of the hospital about three hours before they noticed the fire,” Thomas said. “It was a combined effort of the EMS (Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services), a couple of the Ironton police officers and a couple of firefighters that got him out of there.” Cade was taken by SEOEMS back to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

The fire, which apparently started in the kitchen, appears to have been electrical in nature. The house sustained approximately $25,000 damage. Firefighters were on the scene until 2 a.m. today.