A blaze damaged a FM 1567 home around lunch time Thursday. No injuries were reported, but the home’s garage was destroyed and the kitchen/living area it was attached to sustained smoke and water damages, according to Hopkins County Fire Marshal Michael Matthews.
Emergency dispatchers were notified at 12:29 p.m. of a structure fire on FM 1567. Arbala, Hopkins, County, Brinker, Miller Grove and Pickton-Pine Forest firefighters responded.
The resident and his brother had reportedly been working on a lawn mower in the garage, attached to the house. They’d gone inside the residence to eat. A loud boom was heard. While there was no fire visible inside the house at that point, the occupants reported seeing heavy smoke covering everything in the driveway when they walked outside, according to the fire marshal.
“All got out safely. No one was injured,” Matthews said.
Arbala firefighters arrived on scene first with fire truck. The flames were blazing out of the garage, where the door appeared to have been blown off. Arbala firefighters began an exterior attack on the garage, according to fire reports.
Hopkins County firefighters arrived shortly after. Brinker, Miller Grove and Pickton-Pine Forest firefighters also responded with engines and tankers to assist, according to fire reports. The blaze was spreading across the attic into the kitchen/living area of the home. County firefighters began an interior attack of the home, according to fire reports.
Additional firefighters on scene checked for extension and were utilized for salvage and overhaul phases of the firefight. As firefighters continued working inside, tarps were used to cover furniture inside the home, to help reduce smoke and water damage, according to the fire marshal.
“The majority of the home was saved. Firefighters made a good stop on it, stopped it going into kitchen. The garage was a total loss,” Matthews said.
The cause of the fire is as yet undetermined. While it appears accidental, no official cause has been ruled as further investigation is required, according to the fire marshal.
