Fire takes local home

    Wolf Creek – A woman suffered burns and lost a pet during a residential fire last week.
    “There were flames coming out both sides of the building,” Ranger Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Taylor said.
    Firefighters from several local agencies responded to a blaze in the 16000 block of U.S. 64 West around 3:30 a.m. Feb. 9. Officials say the homeowner had already escaped from the fire after suffering what appeared to be second- and third-degree burns on her legs.
    While several dogs managed to escape from the house as well, firefighters found one deceased in the bedroom.
    “It looked like there was some type of backdraft,” Hiwassee Dam Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chad McNabb said. “The residence was framed inside of a metal building, and that building held all of the heat. We had to make multiple cuts through the metal to open it up and let the heat out.”
    Firefighters used at least 10,000 gallons of water, plus another 300 gallons of foam and water mixed, to fully extinguish the blaze. They worked at the scene for at least four hours.
    No firefighters were injured during the effort. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown.