Lebanon firefighters were called to two post-fire investigations last week.

In one case there was smoke and no flames; in the other the occupant put out the small fire, said Fire Marshal Mark Wilson.

Two firefighters responded to a single-family home in the 32000 block of Berlin Road at 12:46 p.m. on Oct. 23. Using touch and a thermal imaging camera, they found a lot of heat in the wall directly behind the electrical service panel. Four more firefighters responded in case there was fire behind the wall.

Wilson said the electrical panel was discolored and covered with soot, as was the wall around it and the ceiling above it.

The occupant had been out of the home for about an hour. When he returned he found smoke in the house and the burned wall and electrical panel.

Consumer's Power had to cut the power to the home before firefighters could cut into the wall safely and determine the extent of damage and possible cause.

One of the "main" switches in the electrical panel was completely destroyed and was the source of ignition. Why the switch failed is undetermined at this time, Wilson said.

"Fortunately, there was not enough fuel to sustain fire for very long, but there may have been if the homeowner hadn't come home when he did," he said.

Earlier in the day, about 8:50 a.m., firefighters were called to an apartment in the 1800 block of Main St. A toaster had been set on the stove, where a burner was either left on or turned on.

The occupant turned off the burner, but not before the toaster, which was not plugged in, ignited. The occupant extinguished the fire before calling 911.

Damage was limited to the toaster, the stove and surrounding items.

The structure was not damaged.