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Firefighters battled the blaze at 2371 Appalachian Drive on Thursday. (Bulletin photo by Mike Wray) |
Friday, September 18, 2009
By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer
A fire that heavily gutted a house at 2371 Appalachian Drive on Thursday apparently started on the second floor, Henry County fire officials said.
However, they do not yet know the cause of the blaze, and an investigation continues, said county Public Safety Director Dale Wagoner. Foul play is not suspected, he said.
Nobody was at home when the fire occurred about 5 p.m., officials said.
Wagoner said he understands that four people who are related lived in the house, but neither he nor Fieldale Fire Chief Brian Shuler immediately knew their names or how they are related.
Officials said, though, that the American Red Cross intended to find lodging for the occupants Thursday night.
The house is beside Hill Memorial Baptist Church, near the intersection of Appalachian Drive and Koehler Road.
Crews from the Fieldale, Martinsville and Collinsville fire departments as well as the Fieldale-Collinsville and Ridgeway rescue squads responded.
There were no injuries, officials said.
Shuler said firefighters had flames suppressed within 10 minutes, but it took about 30 minutes to get the blaze under control.
Thick, white smoke billowed out of second story windows and from under the roof for a while after fire crews arrived.
A front bedroom upstairs sustained most of the fire damage, while the rest of the two-story house sustained smoke and water damage, Shuler said.
“It was pretty extensive,” Wagoner said of the damage. But he does not think the house will be declared a total loss, he said. |
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