Friday, Apr. 1, 2005

What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor.

Tyrone house fire started in trash can

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Burning cigarette ashes dumped in a trash can ignited a blaze that damaged a home in Tyrone Saturday afternoon.

More than a dozen fire and rescue crews from Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Peachtree City Fire Department and the Fayetteville Fire Department were dispatched to the home of John Beatty at 580 Castlewood Road at 2:50 p.m.

Two occupants who were in the home when the fire started escaped unharmed, Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Capt. Pete Nelms said.

Fire and rescue units from Fayette County and Peachtree City arrived at the home within three minutes and worked feverishly to snuff out the blaze.

However, the response from the Fayetteville Fire Department was impacted after someone struck the department’s new Engine 91. Another fire engine was dispatched in its place while fire and police officials addressed the matter, but that fire engine was cancelled prior to arrival, Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan Jones indicated.

“A vehicle struck our truck. There was no damage. They did not leave. They were on the scene. The police arrived and took care of it,” Jones said. “No one was hurt, but we were not at fault.”

The quick work of the fire crews impeded the spread of the flames that damaged a portion of the one-story brick house with green and white trim.

“Firefighters were able to put a pretty good stop on it,” Nelms said. “It burned off some of the roof and some of the decking.”

The fire caused about $15,000 in damage.

On Wednesday, remnants from the fire laid neatly in a pile on the deck of the home located in a middle-class community.

The residents had left the fire damaged home to stay with relatives, officials said.