Family left Homeless by Saturday Night Fire

A Saturday night fire destroyed the home of James Michael “Moose” and Becky Nokes at 677 Dry Creek Road near Dowelltown.
Central dispatch received the call at around 9:00 p.m.
“The residents called 911 and reported their basement was on fire. Upon our arrival, heavy smoke was observed coming from the basement and the first floor of the home,” said DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green.
“Firefighters entered the basement but the fire, heat, and smoke were too intense to reach the basement area where the fire had already begun to breach the first floor. Firefighters had to resort to a defensive attack to protect nearby exposures, three parked vehicles outside the basement door, and a detached garage,” Chief Green continued.
“The residents were able to safely escape the home, taking only a few personal items with them but the home and remaining contents were destroyed,” he said.
The Liberty, Temperance Hall, and Main Stations responded along with the department’s tanker truck, DeKalb EMS, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
“The residents say they noticed the power flicker a few times, heard a loud pop, and then the power went completely out. When they went to investigate, the residents discovered the fire in the basement,” said Chief Green.
“Although no official determination of the cause of the fire has been made, it is suspected to have started in the electrical breaker box in the basement,” he concluded.