ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 1997 TAG: 9701140056
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
A family of six lost everything in a Sunday night fire that caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to the house they rented.
Dublin Fire Chief Robbie Cecil said no one was at home when the fire broke out at 307 Banks Ave. Chris M. Smith lived in the house with his wife and four children ages 2, 6, 7 and 8.
Cecil said by the time firefighters got the call at 10:31 p.m., flames were shooting from the windows and doors.
It took 20 firefighters to control the fire that Cecil said was probably started by a kerosene heater.
Temperatures in the teens added an icy element to the firefighting as crew members ended up with ice coatings on their gear and clothes, Cecil said. Pulaski Life Saving Crew and Dublin Police officers assisted the Fire Department.
Cecil said clothing and household donations are being taken at the Fire Department, 105 Trinkle Ave., and the Police Department, in the town offices, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Clothing sizes needed are as follows: in men's styles, 31-inch waist and 32-inch length pants, 15 1/2 medium shirts, 8 1/2 shoes, size 42 jacket; in women's styles, size 8 tall pants, medium blouse, size 10 shoes, medium coat; for an 8-year-old girl, size 3 shoes, size 7 slim clothes; for a 7-year-old boy, 8 slim clothes, 4 in shoes; for a 6-year-old boy, 13 1/2 shoes and size 6 clothes; and for a 2-year-old girl, size 6 shoes and clothes 24 months.
Although it took firefighters just about 10 minutes to bring the fire under control, Cecil said the crew did not return to the fire hall until 2:30 Monday morning.
Cecil cautioned that kerosene heaters, and the like, should not be left unattended. Radiant heat from the heaters is often hot enough to catch nearby paper and clothing on fire.
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB