Blaze guts part of 100-year-old home

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Jan. 6, 2004
What remains of a 100-year-old Lauderdale County home was still smoldering today, hours after the homeowner's young child apparently set the house ablaze accidentally.
Clarence Butler, who heads the Lauderdale County volunteer fire departments, said the fire began some time after 10 p.m. while the homeowner was remodeling the older section of the split-level home at 828 Briarwood Road.
Butler said the owner's 3-year-old son carried a pack of matches in his hands and asked his father if he could go outside and shoot fireworks. When the father told him he couldn't, Butler said, he sent him to his room.
Butler said the fire quickly spread throughout the home because it was built with heart pine lumber.
By the time volunteer firefighters from Northeast, Marion, Russell and Bailey volunteer fire departments responded, Butler said, the older section of the split-level home was "fully involved."
He said firefighters were late arriving at the fire because the home's owner was unable to find a good signal on his cell phone to call for help.
Firefighters were able to salvage part of the home that was being remodeled, he said. At about 8 a.m. today, volunteer firefighters were called back to the home while the remains continued to smolder.
Anyone wishing to help the family can contact the local chapter of the American Red Cross at 485-5151.