Home Destroyed in Tuesday Fire

A fire Tuesday afternoon destroyed the home of Gene Cunnigham at 295 Johnson’s Chapel Road.
The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department was summoned to the scene around 3:55 p.m. Members of the Short Mountain Highway, Johnson’s Chapel, and Midway Stations responded along with the equipment truck and a tanker truck. The Cassville Fire Department of White County also responded providing mutual aid assistance.
Cunningham and his wife were at home when the fire started and he suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital and later transported to Vanderbilt Hospital, where he was treated and released. Cunningham later told firefighters that the fire started from curtains in the home and spread throughout the house.
No one else was injured but the family dog perished in the fire.