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Fire destroys Key Allegro home, yacht
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| A fire Saturday at this house on Curlew in Key Allegro resulted in the total loss of the structure, as well as heavy damage to a yacht moored on the bulkhead behind the house. The owner and two other people were in the structure when the fire began, but were alerted by neighbors and safely exited the house. Photos by MIKE PROBST |
By NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
It took the efforts of firefighters from Fulton, Rockport, Lamar, and Ingleside to extinguish a fire at a home at 11 Curlew in Key Allegro Saturday evening, July 26.
A yacht behind the home also sustained significant damage, but fortunately no one was injured, although the family was home when the blaze broke out.
City Fire Marshal Larry Sinclair, who is investigating the fire, said witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the area of the garage, which is believed to be where it started.
The homeowner, his daughter and a family friend were at home that evening, and were reportedly watching television in the room above the garage. A neighbor who saw the flames alerted the homeowner to the blaze.
Fulton Fire Chief Rickey McLester said the 911 call was received about 9:30 a.m. He said the structure was fully engulfed when they arrived, and they knew it was a total loss. Their concern was not just the home and yacht at 11 Curlew, but also the homes on either side.
McLester said the water in the 750-gallon tank truck was used quickly. He said one of the fire hydrants in the area is a “dead-end” hydrant, meaning it is not tied into a loop system. Therefore they “ran out of water” for about a minute, until they could get another line established.
Fulton responded with two trucks, Rockport sent five, Lamar sent one, and Ingleside dispatched two. A truck from the Gregory fire department was dispatched to the Rockport main station to provide backup in case of another callout.
Due to the location of the fire and the direction of the wind, the yacht behind the home also was ignited. Firefighters were able to contain and eventually extinguish the blaze in both the house and the yacht. McLester said the vessel did not sink, but did sustain significant damage.
Sinclair also said there was a Jeep Wrangler in the garage at the time of the blaze.
He and State Fire Marshal Chris Janssen have combined efforts on the investigation of the fire.
Sinclair said because of the dangerous situation, they had not begun to dig through the home, but had expected to begin doing so Tuesday, July 29.
He said based on witnesses' reports of first seeing flames in the general vicinity of the garage, they will begin their investigation there.
Sinclair said once arson has been ruled out, his investigation will be complete. The state investigation goes a little further, which is why they wanted Janssen's expertise, Sinclair said. After that, the case can be turned over to private insurance investigators.
Sinclair pointed out while the fire breaking out is unfortunate, the homeowner is lucky it happened at a time when people are still awake, rather than at 1 or 2 a.m. when everyone home could have been asleep.
All persons in the home were able to get out safely, and get their pets out as well.
Rockport Fire Chief Albert Howie said firefighters remained on scene until about 5 a.m. Sunday to assure no hot spots flared up.
A yacht behind the home also sustained significant damage, but fortunately no one was injured, although the family was home when the blaze broke out.
City Fire Marshal Larry Sinclair, who is investigating the fire, said witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the area of the garage, which is believed to be where it started.
The homeowner, his daughter and a family friend were at home that evening, and were reportedly watching television in the room above the garage. A neighbor who saw the flames alerted the homeowner to the blaze.
Fulton Fire Chief Rickey McLester said the 911 call was received about 9:30 a.m. He said the structure was fully engulfed when they arrived, and they knew it was a total loss. Their concern was not just the home and yacht at 11 Curlew, but also the homes on either side.
McLester said the water in the 750-gallon tank truck was used quickly. He said one of the fire hydrants in the area is a “dead-end” hydrant, meaning it is not tied into a loop system. Therefore they “ran out of water” for about a minute, until they could get another line established.
Fulton responded with two trucks, Rockport sent five, Lamar sent one, and Ingleside dispatched two. A truck from the Gregory fire department was dispatched to the Rockport main station to provide backup in case of another callout.
Due to the location of the fire and the direction of the wind, the yacht behind the home also was ignited. Firefighters were able to contain and eventually extinguish the blaze in both the house and the yacht. McLester said the vessel did not sink, but did sustain significant damage.
Sinclair also said there was a Jeep Wrangler in the garage at the time of the blaze.
He and State Fire Marshal Chris Janssen have combined efforts on the investigation of the fire.
Sinclair said because of the dangerous situation, they had not begun to dig through the home, but had expected to begin doing so Tuesday, July 29.
He said based on witnesses' reports of first seeing flames in the general vicinity of the garage, they will begin their investigation there.
Sinclair said once arson has been ruled out, his investigation will be complete. The state investigation goes a little further, which is why they wanted Janssen's expertise, Sinclair said. After that, the case can be turned over to private insurance investigators.
Sinclair pointed out while the fire breaking out is unfortunate, the homeowner is lucky it happened at a time when people are still awake, rather than at 1 or 2 a.m. when everyone home could have been asleep.
All persons in the home were able to get out safely, and get their pets out as well.
Rockport Fire Chief Albert Howie said firefighters remained on scene until about 5 a.m. Sunday to assure no hot spots flared up.
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cheri palmer wrote on Mar 15, 2009 10:38 PM: