Monday fire destroys duplex

By Staff
Jason Houston FCT Managing Editor
A tragic house fire in Russellville Monday night destroyed a duplex apartment and all possessions of two local families.
Fire Marshal Bobby Malone said the department received the fire call at 7:44 p.m. Monday, in the middle of the department's annual Christmas dinner.
Firemen in attendance at the dinner rushed to the scene at 800 North Washington, but just minutes after the call, the fire was fully involved.
Malone said the residents of the duplex were Mary Hall in one apartment and Terry Hill in the other. He said the families were at home when the fire started, but no one was injured.
Hall has two girls, ages 13 and 9. Hill has two girls also, ages 5 and 3. The families lost everything in the fire including Christmas presents and all their winter clothes.
Malone said the Red Cross has been called in to provide assistance. Also, friends of the family have set up a trust account at Citizen's Bank in the name of Margie Hill. Donations to the account will go to help both families.
For more information on donating to the account, contact Margie Hill at 331-0566.
Malone said the fire department worked to contain the blaze until almost midnight, at which point they returned to the A.W. Todd Centre an attempted to continue their Christmas dinner.