A Sunday morning blaze destroyed a Kilmichael home, leaving the structure just a brick shell.
According to Kilmichael Fire Chief Dave Eldridge, Kilmichael firefighters responded to a house fire at 400 Hill Drive in Kilmichael at around 3 a.m.
“It was fully involved when we got there,” Eldridge said. “The roof had fallen in.”
Eldridge said the Kilmichael Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze with two engines, and Poplar Creek Volunteer Fire Department sent a tanker truck.
“It took us 7,000 to 8,000 gallons of water to get it under control,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge said the resident was not at home when the fire started, however, her four dogs were lost in the fire.
“Our preliminary findings is that it appears to be an electric wall heater that is the cause,” Eldridge said.
Eldridge said citizens should practice care when using electric heaters, especially those featuring coils that turn red or built-in electric heaters in older homes.
“You need to make sure these [built-in] electric heaters are clear with nothing in front of them,” Eldridge said. “You think they are off, but they will turn on if the temperatures drop.”
The Mississippi Fire Marshall’s office offered these tips in protecting your home this winter because heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February.
Here are some heating safety tips:
Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable heater.
Only use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
Never use your oven for heating.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning.
Test smoke alarms and CO2 alarms monthly.
