Firefighters from five VFDs battle inferno which destroys Jones County home

(The following press release and photos were submitted from the Jones County Fire Council.)

A Jones County home was destroyed by fire in the early morning hours on Monday, June 18, 2018. Volunteer fire and rescue units from Powers, Glade and M&M responded to the initial call which was dispatched at 3:36am. Initial arriving fire units reported a fully involved house fire at #171 Jordan Drive and Powers Fire Chief Joey Davis requested a second alarm which dispatched volunteer fire and rescue units from Rustin and Sandersville to the scene.

The all-wood home which was owned by Tracy West and occupied by his sister Dusti West Overstreet and her 16 year old daughter Carlie Overstreet was burning ferociously with a partial roof collapse already having occurred upon arrival of Powers Engine 1. Chief Davis ordered firefighters to conduct an exterior fire attack due to the extremely heavy fire conditions and danger of a further roof collapse. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control; however, nothing in the home was deemed salvageable. A nearby metal storage building whose contents also caught fire due to exposure to the fire was saved by firefighters along with the vast majority of the contents.

Ms. West arrived on the scene from her place of employment at South Central Regional Medical Center to find firefighters extinguishing the smoldering remains of her home. Fortunately, her daughter Carlie was out of town visiting relatives at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported at the scene to any of the emergency responders who battled the fast moving blaze. Units from the Jones County Sheriff's Department, EMServ Ambulance Service and Dixie Electric Power Association also responded to the scene.

Responding fire units included Powers Engine 1, Tanker, Rescue 1, Rescue 3 and Brush 1; Glade Tanker, M&M Tanker, Rustin Tanker and Sandersville Tanker. Firefighters performed a continuous water shuttle using five fire department tankers to provide water for fire suppression. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and under investigation to attempt to determine a cause.