County fire officials are still investigating a house fire early Sunday that was caused by a falling power line.
Dan McKenna, Jones County fire coordinator, said a home on Highway 84 West near Maxie Road received “considerable damage” on the inside after the power line connected with metal skirting on the bottom of the house.
“Someone had shot one of the high voltage lines with a shotgun,” McKenna said. “It damaged the wire and, as it heated up with more demand for electricity, it shorted out and broke.”
McKenna said the 72 volts of electricity traveled through a fence and all the way through the gas line, starting fires at the hot water tank and kitchen stove inside the home.
“Gas was not involved in the fire,” he said. “The heat produced from the electricity ignited the combustibles in the house. It did considerable damage to the structure on the interior.”
McKenna said all four departments in District 1 – Calhoun, Soso, Hebron and Pleasant Ridge — responded, with Calhoun serving as primary.
McKenna said there was two occupants inside the home, a woman and her daughter.
“There were no injuries,” he said. “They were fortunate that a passer-by discovered the fire and got them out.”
James Brady, the homeowner’s brother, called the Leader-Call after the fire and said the blame falls on Dixie Electric Power Association, which owns the power line.
“They knew that power line was damaged, but hadn’t fixed it yet,” he said. “I tried to call, but they said I would have to call somebody on Monday.”
Dixie Electric’s business office was closed Sunday. For more, see Tuesday’s paper of the Laurel Leader-Call.
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Falling power line sparks Sunday house fire
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