By Lance Chancellor, Jones Co. Fire Council Public Information Officer
Laurel Leader-Call
LAUREL — A massive fire destroyed the two story home of Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Sullivan at 226 Riverside Church Road in southwestern Jones County on Thursday evening.
Volunteer fire units from Boggy, South Jones and Southwest Jones were dispatched to the call at 8:36 p.m. with arriving fire units reporting the home heavily involved in fire upon arrival.
According to Mr. Sullivan, he had been mowing the yard and had parked the riding lawn mower under a wood deck/storage area and went inside for dinner. Some time later, a neighbor noticed the house on fire and advised the Sullivan's who were eating dinner and unaware their home was burning.
It is believed that grass clipping on the mower deck ignited either from a hot ball bearing or drive belt and ignited the gasoline tank on the lawn mower spreading the fire upward into the wood deck and adjoining house.
Three fire engines, four tankers and one rescue truck responded to the fire with fire units remaining on the scene for over two hours. In addition to volunteer fire departments, Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna, the American Red Cross and Dixie Electric Power Association responded to the scene. Southwest Jones Fire Chief Kenny Keith served as Incident Commander during the fire department response to the fire.
The home is deemed a total loss with the homeowners only able to save their personal vehicles and the clothes they were wearing at the time.
Look for more on this story in Saturday's edition of the Laurel Leader-Call.
