A house fire on Cleveland Street was quickly brought under control due to the rapid response of first responders.
A press release by Gray Fire Chief Keith Eisele stated that the Gray Fire Department was dispatched to the Cleveland Street residence at 9:10 a.m. Feb. 18. He said the Jones County Fire Department was also dispatched for automatic aid.
The chief said Fire units from the City of Gray — including Engine 72, Ladder 73 and Squad 74 — arrived at the scene at 9:14 a.m., which was three minutes after the initial dispatch. Jones County Engines 1 and 6 both responded.
Additionally, units from the Gray Police Department and Jones County Sheriff’s Office were on-site to provide support during the incident.
“The cooperation among all public safety agencies is commendable,” Eisele said.
The chief said GFD Capt. Heather Johnson took command of the incident, and efforts to address the situation began. The responding crews found a two-story structure with flames visible between the first and second floors.
The fire had also extended to the attic, producing smoke from the eaves. Initially, it was uncertain if anyone was inside the building, leading fire crews to conduct a search. No occupants were found, and it was later confirmed that they were at their workplace.
“Engine 72 commenced the fire attack by deploying handlines both externally and internally, while also securing a dependable water source from a nearby fire hydrant,” Eisele said. “Gray Police and deputies from the Jones County Sheriff’s Office assisted in dragging 200 feet of five-inch hose to connect to the hydrant.”
The chief said after making the initial attack inside the home, Lt. Mark Husted and two firefighters encountered smoke that was low to the ground, which significantly hindered visibility. They successfully located and extinguished the fire on the first floor, ensuring that all hot spots were addressed.
Other firefighters assisted with other operations on scene. The interior of the building sustained considerable damage, making it uninhabitable for the residents.
He added that incident command contacted the American Red Cross to assist the affected family and requested an investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s office to assess the scene. Eisele said Crews remained on-site until the investigation was completed, which concluded that the fire was accidental and related to electrical components on the first floor.
“We express our gratitude to all our firefighters for their dedicated service to the community,” he said.
The chief noted that the Gray Fire Department operates entirely with volunteers.
“This commitment demonstrates our agency’s care for the community and our determination to enhance safety every day,” he said.
“We are continually seeking dedicated volunteers, which contributes to our agency achieving an ISO Class 3 rating.”
