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House fire injures 2

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Two Fayette County residents are recovering from injuries they received March 17 during a fire that gutted a portion of their home on Bohannon Road.

Martha Wade and Larry Geyer of 204 Bohannon Road were in the home located near the Fulton County line about 3:45 p.m. when a fire broke out. A faulty kerosene heater is believed to be the culprit in the blaze that caused more than $100,000 in damage to the ranch-style home, officials said.

“Ms. Wade saw flames develop around the right side of kerosene heater,” Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Capt. Pete Nelms said. The heater and the fire inside caught fire, Nelms added.

“Both occupants tried to move the heater out the rear door, but were unsuccessful,” he said.

Nelms indicated that both occupants received minor injuries during the fire. However, both managed to escape from the home and call for help.

More than 11 emergency vehicles including six fire engines, two water tankers and about 25 city and county firefighters were dispatched to the scene.

Seven minutes after receiving a call, units of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services arrived to battle the blaze. Units of the Fayetteville Fire Department assisted their efforts, as part of the departments’ Mutual Aid Agreement.

The feverish blaze was under control in 40 minutes, Nelms said.

“The fire is accidental,” Nelms said.

Firefighters saved a portion of the home from total destruction. However, the house did sustain a significant amount of loss, Nelms indicated. The occupants had to find other living arrangements.

The South Metro Bureau of the American Red Cross was contacted. However, the couple declined to accept temporary emergency disaster relief from the agency, officials said.