JONES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
A Hungerford Road fire that took place the day after Christmas was a total loss for the homeowner and the loss of a place to live for its residents.
Emergency Management Director and Jones County Fire Chief Don Graham stated in a press release that Jones County Fire Rescue responded to a fire at a single-story wood frame and block house on Hungerford Road at 8:47 p.m. Dec.26.
Graham said the house was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene. He said the firefighters quickly realized that the fire load was excessive and required a defensive posture to battle the blaze safely.
Three water tenders were dispatched to shuttle water. The chief said the closest water source was one mile away.
He said no one was inside the dwelling when the fire started. One of the residents was at work and his adult son was outside.
The weather had been extremely cold that weekend, and Graham said there had been a fire in the fireplace all afternoon. He pointed to the fireplace, which had gone unattended for at least a few hours, as the likely culprit that started the fire.
“With a very large fire load of wood and the home contents, it makes for a perfect mixture to produce a large, extremely hot, and a stubborn fire,” the chief said.
Graham said fire tenders shuttled more than 21,000 gallons of water to help suppress the blaze.
He noted that one firefighter was taken to an emergency facility for minor injuries but was released back to full duty.
A report of the fire by Jones County Sheriff Office Deputy Matthew Dennis said the residence was totally engulfed in flames when he arrived, which was the same time the fire department got there. He said one of the residents was on the scene and told him the middle of the chimney was on fire. The resident said he attempted to put it out, but the water pipes were frozen.
Dennis said emergency services personnel got there shortly after and escorted the resident to the ambulance to be medically evaluated. He later stayed in the ambulance to keep warm.
The deputy said he was still at the scene when the homeowner arrived, and he was able to give more information about the three people living in the home.
The Hurts family lost everything and had no insurance on their belongings. A GoFundMe account has been set up in the name of Lorretta Hurts, and a checking account in the name of the Hurts family has been set up at Magnolia State Bank to accept donations.
