EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Firefighters restricted a house fire to a basement after responding to a call at 7:10 a.m. Aug. 4. Smoke could be seen from outside the house at 124 Carla St. The crew entered the basement and encountered heavy smoke in the back corner, Assistant Chief Cameron White said. Firefighters put out the fire and completed searches to assure the fire did not reach other parts of the house, he said. The department concluded an electrical issue had caused the accidental fire. Smoke detectors alerted the house occupants, who evacuated safely. Kearney, Lawson, Liberty and Ray County all sent emergency personnel as backup.