Woman escapes burning home
during 3 a.m. fire on Tuesday
by Teresa Eubanks, CLJNews.com
A Calhoun County woman escaped injury but lost nearly everything when an early morning fire raced through her home Tuesday.
The blaze tore through the brick veneer residence, located on NW Jap Austin Road, according to Magnolia Fire Dept. Chief James Byrd. “It was burning on the carport end and progressing into the house when we got there,” he said, adding, “It was total destruction.”
The cause is unknown at this time. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating how the blaze started.
The woman was home alone at the time while her children were spending the night with a relative.
Volunteers with the Magnolia Fire Department were assisted by the Nettle Ridge and Blountstown Fire Departments. The chief said a unit from West FL Electric arrived on scene to shut off the power. The Calhoun County ambulance crew also responded and remained on standby.
The fire chief said the homeowner managed to get her car away from the carport before it was damaged. Everything else the family had was destroyed. Firefighters were called out at 3:16 a.m.
The Red Cross is helping the family with temporary arrangements as they began efforts to deal with the loss.
“Time is of the essence when you have a fire,” said Chief Byrd, noting that the materials used in today’s home burn quickly. “The contents are more flammable, like the styrene and rubber used in carpets, which also puts off a lot of poisonous gas.”
He urges everyone to be sure their homes have smoke detectors, noting that people can often escape a fire “but the smoke will take them out.”
He added that smoke detectors should be tested at least once – preferably twice – a year, although he said it’s best to test them every few months to ensure your family’s safety.
About Author
