Rodents were blamed for starting a fire on Decatur Street over the weekend.
The pests chewed through wires in a dishwasher, causing them to spark when water leaked on them, according to the Fire Department. The wires then smoldered, filling a house at 20 Decatur St. with smoke Friday afternoon.
A 911 call reporting the fire was logged at 5:12 p.m.
When the first firefighters arrived, they found light smoke throughout the building. A tenant showed them the dishwasher where the fire had started, pointing out where rodents had chewed through wires and the drain hose. The drain hose then leaked water onto the chewed wires, creating the smoke.
The circuit breaker to the dishwasher was shut down, and the electrical inspector was notified.
While they were there, firefighters tested the building's smoke detectors, finding that the ones on the second and third floors were not working properly, the report stated. The tenant was advised to used battery-powered detectors until the problem could be fixed.
Arrests
r A New Hampshire man is facing a long list of charges after an incident Saturday night which left a police officer with an injured hand.
Joseph B. Sharleville, 36, of 7 Perkins Ave., Seabrook, N.H., was arrested on Eastern Avenue at 9:45 p.m.
Afterwards, the arresting officer, Detective Steven Mizzoni reported that he had hurt his hand, according to the police log.
Sharleville was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, larceny of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, resisting arrest, assault and battery on a police officer, making threats, reckless driving, failure to keep right, leaving the scene of an accident, speeding and driving with a suspended license.
He was taken to the county jail in Middleton a few hours after his arrest.
r William J. Manning, 35, of 100 Main St., Gloucester, was arrested at 4:32 p.m. Friday and charged with domestic assault and battery.
r Joseph N. Jones, 30, of 45 Western Ave., Gloucester, was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery and malicious destruction of property on Western Avenue at 2:40 a.m. Saturday.
r Walter W. Barrett, 38, of 9 Foster St., Gloucester, was arrested at 3:51 a.m. yesterday and charged with domestic assault and battery, assault and battery and armed assault. The arrest was made on Foster Street, after police received a report from a woman who said her husband had assaulted her.
Incidents
r A complaint of youths shooting paintballs on East Main Street was logged at 9:04 p.m. Friday.
r A needle was found on the sidewalk on Prospect Street at 10:03 p.m. Saturday.
Fire record
r An 81-year-old man was taken to Beverly Hospital after rescuers responded to a 911 call reporting a man with a broken leg at the Rhumb Line tavern on Railroad Avenue at 10:52 p.m. Friday.
r Patients were taken to the Addison Gilbert Hospital from Prospect Street, Main Street and Thatcher Road on Friday, and from Washington, Rogers, Prospect and Foster streets on Saturday.
