ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220033
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FLOYD
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA
A group home for abused and troubled children near Possum Hollow lost four rooms to an early morning fire Tuesday.
Junior Harris, chief of the Floyd Volunteer Fire Department's Station 1, said a teen-ager with minor burns was the only person injured in the 3 a.m. fire at Tekoa Residential Treatment Facility. Harris said the teen was treated at the scene.
The fire started after a lamp's electrical cord shorted, Harris said. The cord ignited one teen's bedclothes and mattress.
Teens and staff at the home attempted to put the fire out using fire extinguishers, but the blaze grew too large. By the time the firefighters arrived, flames were cominging through the roof, Harris said.
The relatively new building - opened in November 1994 - was saved, in part, because of a fire wall, Harris said.
Firefighters from Floyd stations 1 and 3 responded along with backup from the Riner Volunteer Fire Department. Harris said it took his crew 12 to 15 minutes to reach the fire.
"We saved the biggest part [of the building], but it burned off four rooms and there was smoke damage throughout the building," Harris said.
LENGTH: Short : 32 linesby CNB