A Hutchinson home was severely damaged as the result of improper disposal of fireworks early Saturday morning.



Tyler Colvert, of 51 Random Road, said he and his family celebrated Independence Day by lighting off fireworks. Around 11:45 p.m. they cleaned up the ashes and placed them in a poly-cart next to their garage.



Officials determined the embers from the fireworks caught fire and spread rapidly to the home around 2 a.m. Saturday. Colvert was able to remove his wife and children without injures before firefighters arrived at the scene. However, Colvert said they lost three cats as a result of the fire.



Officials estimate damage to be nearly $60,000 to the home and $30,000 to the contents. Heavy damage was sustained to the garage and kitchen with heat and smoke damage throughout the house.



Hutchinson Fire Chief Kim Forbes said the fire took 20 minutes to control; units stayed on scene for two hours.



�Fortunately, they were able to get out of the house,� he said. �That would have been the real tragedy. You can always replace the structure and the contents but not a life.�



Forbes also said this fire was completely avoidable. The Hutchinson Fire Department received numerous fireworks-related complaints Friday, but this was the only structure fire, Forbes said.



Colvert said his employer, Cargill Salt, has reached out to the family and put them up at Ramada Inn.