House fires continue to come in bunches around Calhoun County, some with devastating consequences.
Terry home in Big Creek
There have been two today, both in Calhoun City. The first was this morning on Edmondson Street where a house suffered significant damage. No one was injured.
Another fire at a home on Patsy Avenue in Calhoun City this afternoon escaped with very minor damage after a fire broke out on the exterior of the back of the brick house.
Over the past week there have been a number of other house fires that were a total loss. Charles M. Terry, 93, of Big Creek, was not injured but lost his home on CR 314 last Saturday. Big Creek, Calhoun City and Derma units all responded to the fire.
Brent and Caitlin Sullivan and their two children lost everything in a house fire New Year's Eve morning on Hwy. 341. Bruce, Chickenbone and Vardaman fire departments all responded to the call. A home goods shower is planned for the family Saturday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. in the fellowship hall of Vardaman Baptist Church to help collect furniture, bedroom suits, bedding, towels and other items.
Another fire, just prior to 6 o’clock New Year’s morning destroyed the house of Shirley Hilderbrand on Richards Street in Vardaman. Hilderbrand, who lived in the home with her sister, was in Oklahoma at the time of the fire. Vardaman fire department responded to the call as flames were shooting out of the roof. The home was a total loss. Clothing and some other items have been collected at the fire department.
Fire severely damaged the home of Mary Jo Thomas on Annette Street in Bruce. No one was injured in the fire, but the damage was severe enough she and her son Tom were forced to move out until repairs could be done.
Banner fire department responded to a fire call at James and Becky Wright's home in Banner last weekend as well, but it turned out to be a heater issue with no damage to the home. There have also been eight separate grass fires in the county fire departments have been dispatched to over the last five days.
