Tuesday fire burns H’wick properties

Home of one resident is total loss, fire chief says

A Howardwick man lost his home after an early morning fire tore through his Janny Street neighborhood Tuesday, May 19.

Fire Chief Jacob Hodge said the City of Howardwick Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at 1:07 a.m. after residents were alerted to a fire by the sound of what was probably a propane tank exploding.

Hodge said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined and said it wasn’t clear if the explosion caused the fire or a fire caused the explosion. Another tank later exploded in the blaze.

Emergency personnel began immediately evacuating residents in the area, and one resident who could not walk had to be removed physically.

Hodge said a strong north wind drove the fire which was moving erratically.

One occupied mobile home – the residence of John Smithers – was totally destroyed along with an outbuilding, the fire chief said. Smithers was not home at the time of the fire.

The fire then burned a neighboring storage building and a carport with a van under it.

A camper was destroyed as well as a shop building on Olita Drive, and another trailer house was substantially damaged, but Hodge said it was unclear if it was presently occupied.

Mutual aid was received from volunteer fire departments in Clarendon, Hedley, Groom, and McLean; and by 4:00 a.m., the fire was contained. Most units left the scene by 7:30, but some Howardwick firefighters were still watching hot spots at noon.

“Without the cooperation of area departments and the mutual aid, we could not have done this,” Hodge said.

Local officials remind everyone to be very cautious of fire because it can spread quickly in the present drought conditions.