Sunday Fires Leave Two Families Homeless

Fires on Sunday left two DeKalb County families homeless.
The first one occurred at a mobile home at 303 Man Hill Road, Dowelltown.
County Fire Chief Donny Green says the residents, Treva Hartman and Larry Lattimore, both escaped safely, but they lost all their belongings.
Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 5:00 a.m. but the structure was apparently too far gone by that time they got there, and it could not be saved.
Members of the Liberty, Cookeville Highway, and Main Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded, along with the Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb EMS.
The local Red Cross Chapter was called to provide emergency assistance including food, clothing, and shelter for the family.
The cause of the fire is undetermined.
Firefighters were called out again on Sunday at 3:20 p.m. to a mobile home at 991 Stoner Road in the Seven Springs Community. John and Cynthia Whitworth were renting the home from the owner, Bobby Stoner.
Chief Green says no one was at home at the time of the fire. The Whitworths had been gone overnight and discovered the fire when they returned Sunday around 3:00 p.m. They saw smoke coming from the house upon their arrival, and found, after trying to open the front door, that they could not enter the house because of the intense heat and smoke.
Members of the Keltonburg, Belk, Blue Springs, and Short Mountain Highway Fire Stations responded along with mutual aid assistance from the North Warren Fire Department, who helped supply water with a tanker truck. The Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb EMS were also there.
Chief Green says firefighters were able to save about a third of the house and much of the contents and family belongings were either damaged or destroyed.
An electrical storm Friday night also kept firefighters busy, answering calls at residences on Carter Lane off Oakley Hollow Road, Liberty and at Lakeview Road off Cookeville Highway, Smithville where lightning strikes caused damage to home appliances, but sparked no fires.
Chief Green says lightning also struck a three story cedar lake home belonging to Billie Hayes at 320 Summer Court in the Four Seasons Resort area, but the damage wasn’t discovered until Saturday afternoon when Ms. Hayes arrived at the residence. Firefighters were called around 12:43 p.m.
According to Chief Green, the lightning damaged a portion of the house that covers the deck, splintering wood, knocking off singles, and causing a support beam to catch fire, which firefighters found smoldering then they arrived.
Firefighters had to use their brush truck, because access was limited due to the steep, narrow road leading to the house. However, members of the Midway, Short Mountain Highway, and Cookeville Highway stations, along with a tanker truck were nearby to provide water and support.
No one was injured and the small fire was brought under control with minimal damage.