(Updated) Firefighters from Portsmouth and Panama along with a Medivac Ambulance crew were dispatched to a structure fire early this (Monday) morning. The call came in from 206 3rd Avenue in Portsmouth, just before 3-a.m.  Initial reports suggested the fire began in the kitchen area and may have been electrical in nature, but Portsmouth Fire Chief Michael Leinen said later the cause of the fire was still under investigation. Leinen said there was extensive damage to the kitchen/back porch area, and the remainder of the house sustained smoke and some water damage.

The Harlan and Persia Fire Departments were initially dispatched to the scene, but then were called off at around 3:20-a.m.. Fire crews were on the scene about 2 hours.