02/13/07 — Blaze hits city family's house

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Blaze hits city family's house

By Lee Williams
Published in News on February 13, 2007 1:55 PM

Fire raced through a home on Dollard Town Road Monday forcing two adults and three children to escape in the wee hours of the morning.

Joe Spruill and his family were in the home at 190 Dollard Town Road when the fire broke out about 1:30 a.m. Seven people lived in the mobile home, but only five were at home, El-roy Fire Chief Steve Mozingo said. All made it out of the home safe, but the dwelling could not be saved.

Armed with 10 fire trucks, firefighters from the El-roy, New Hope and Arrington volunteer fire departments rushed in to battle the blaze, but the fierce flames forced them to retreat.

"It was pretty much well involved when we arrived on scene," Mozingo said. "We tried to make an interior attack, but backed out and did a defensive attack."

Firefighters worked feverishly to douse the flames despite frigid 28 degrees temperatures. It took firefighters 27 minutes to contain the fire. However, crews remained until 5 a.m. soaking hotspots to prevent a rekindle.

The fire caused $25,000 to the home and contents, Mozingo said. He declared the home a total loss. The American Red Cross responded and offered temporary housing, clothing and other necessities to the family.