PIQUA, Ohio -- Piqua fire investigators said "it is highly probable that a laptop computer left on and placed on a fabric living room couch," is the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a house at 1516 Madison Ave. Friday afternoon.

It is the home of Matt Taylor, his wife, 10-month-old child, two dogs and two cats. Matt is a lieutenant on the nearby Lockington Volunteer Fire Department.

Friday afternoon Matt said he was home using his laptop computer when the Lockington Fire Department was dispatched to a traffic crash in Shelby County. Matt left his computer turned on, plugged into the electrical socket, on the living room couch.

Matt returned to his Madison Avenue home in Piqua two hours after the dispatch to discover smoke coming from his dwelling. A neighbor told him she had called 911 for the fire department. Minutes later, Piqua Fire Department arrived on the scene.

The fire was contained to the living room, but caused heavy smoke damage throughout the house.

Officials believe the heat generated from the laptop was enough to catch the sofa on fire.

Matt wanted his story told, so that others realize that leaving an activated laptop on furniture can start a fire.

"It is what it is," said Taylor, as he, with the help of fellow members of the Lockington Fire Department, put his life back in order. Taylor is thankful on this Thanksgiving holiday weekend that his wife and baby were not at home. The family did lose all their personal belongings, along with the dogs and cats.

Currently the cause of the fire is officially listed as accidential and undetermined on the Piqua Fire Department report, while fire investigators said it is highly probable the fire was started by the laptop computer.

Steve.Baker@WHIOTV.com