UPDATE: Possible Electrical Short Causes Morning House Fire

• UPDATED (2:41 p.m. April 11)--Story includes information from Frankfort Assistant Fire Chief Larry Rauch about the fire.

An electrical fire possibly caused by a short from an air conditioner damaged a house Monday morning in the 800 block of Oakwood Drive.

No one was hurt, and the short may have been caused by the air conditioner being turned on for the first time this year Sunday, said Mike Harper, brother-in-law of the home's owner, Karen Harper. 

The small fire started in the utlity room of the house around 7:20 a.m., said Frankfort Assistant Fire Chief Larry Rauch, causing a significant amount of smoke damage. There also was a hole burned through the floor of the master bedroom, he added.

Rauch said he didn't know if the air conditioner or an electrical short was the cause of the fire. He said it was still under investigation by Harper's insurance company.

Karen Harper was in the shower when she smelled smoke coming through the ducts, said Mike Harper at the scene.

Karen Harper, who is a widower, has five children, but they were already at school when the fire started, according to Mike Harper. Because of the damage, the family won't be able to live in the house for some time, Rauch said.