Family of three escapes fire unharmed
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 6, 2016 1:46 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- A woman, her two children and pet dog escaped injury Tuesday morning as they fled their burning home.
They were taken to the police station to get them out of the frigid weather until the Red Cross could be contacted for help.
Barbara Herring was at home with her son, Josh, 13, daughter, Stephanie, 18 and their dog, Bear, when the fire started. Her older son David, 20, was at work, but came home after learning of the fire.
The call initially came in at 11:31 a.m. as a fire with entrapment, but when firefighters arrived police told them that the family had been taken to the police station.
When David Herring arrived he did not know where his mother was, but found out she was at the police station.
"It was a total loss," Fire Chief Greg Wiggins said. "We could see it (smoke) from the fire station. You don't see that often. When it took of, it took off, and of course that brisk north wind fanned the flames.
"The front of the house was nothing but a ball of fire when we got there."
The house, located at 109 S. Southerland St., is a total loss, Wiggins said.
Wiggins said he did not yet have an estimated value of the home and its contents.
"The family basically lost everything, but got out safely," he said.
Wiggins said it appears that the fire was started by a space heater in the bedroom or possibly another electrical problem.
Dudley and Calypso fire departments provided mutual aid.
Firefighters were on the scene for about an hour and a half.
They returned to the station to service the truck and gear, but were called back to the scene about 40 minutes later when the fire rekindled.
"The wind found a hot spot for us," Wiggins said.
Firefighters were on the scene for another hour.