JONES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
A home in the City of Gray received devastating damage from a fire that may have started in an outdoor trash can.
A report of the May 25 fire that took place on Amanda Drive by City of Gray Fire Chief Keith Eisele states the home was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene.
The chief said Gray Fire Department Engine 71 was the first to arrive on the scene, followed by two additional units. He said heavy fire and turbulent black smoke was on the entire left side of the structure in the garage area.
Eisele said the fire burned through the roof, extended through the attic and exited out of the eves of the structure. He said contact was made with the occupants, and they were all confirmed evacuated in the front yard.
The chief said a positive water source was established, and the firefighters were able to extinguish the flames utilizing hand lines and the deck gun. He said a fire investigator was requested to complete the investigation of the fire.
Eisele said he spoke to the occupants of the home, including the owner, Rick Tipton, who stated he was in the yard when his wife came outside to tell him the house was on fire. She said a neighbor knocked on the door to alert them of the fire.
Tipton said he checked the home and noticed fire coming up from the garage area. He tried to extinguish it with a garden hose but was unsuccessful. Tipton evacuated everyone from the home and called 911.
The chief said the fire appears to have originated in a trash can that was at the garage side of the structure, but the investigator would be completing a final report on the cause of the fire.
Eisele said initial response minutes were lost due to a mix up when the call was dispatched.
The chief said Jones County Stations 1 and 8 were the first to be dispatched and not the City of Gray, which is closer to the fire by more than three miles. He said he requested the page of the correct station via radio, which resulted in a two-minute delay.
The report shows GFD was dispatched at 4:28 p.m., and the first unit arrived on the scene at 4:36 p.m.
