Ranger – A 5,300-square-foot residential home was a total loss due to fire Friday.
The initial tone out for fire departments to respond went out about 5:09 p.m., with Bellview, Culberson, Martins Creek, Murphy and Ranger fire department trucks arriving on Lamar Road behind the Hot Spot convenience store along U.S. 64 West.
The single-level brick structure with a basement collapsed in on itself, making extinguishment of all hot spots difficult. Two additional calls for the Ranger Volunteer Fire Department to respond back to the scene went out at 8:33 p.m., then about 11:33 p.m.
Ranger Fire Chief Mike Taylor and his crew didn’t finish fighting the rekindled fire until late in the evening and in to the early morning hours the following day.
“I’m thankful no one was hurt. On the initial attack, we had firemen on the inside to search and knock down the fire from inside. The firemen then came out to regroup and reassess, they had been out of the house roughly two minutes before the roof and brick sides began collapsing in on itself,” Taylor said.
“This caused difficulty getting enough water down into the contents that continued to burn. We returned a couple more times during the night to add more water to the debris. We are sorry for the loss of property, but blessed that no major injuries were sustained to residents nor fire personnel. We all work together well throughout our county, and I want to thank everyone that responded to help out.”
Although the fire is still under investigation, it’s thought to have started in the basement.
About 33,000 gallons of water were used fighting the fire, and smoke could still be seen rising from what was left of the home Saturday.