Homeowner escapes fire last Tuesday

A fire that destroyed the home of a Clarendon woman last Tuesday, August 25, has been ruled an accident according to the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department.

Firefighters were paged out at 1:54 p.m. to 1113 W. Third where they found the home actively burning. Second Assistant Chuck Robertson said the fire started in a garage or shed adjacent to the west side of the house and a strong hot wind was blowing the blaze into the main home.

The homeowner, Beth Johnston, was unharmed in the fire. Robertson said Johnston was in the den in the southwest part of the house when she saw the fire on the back porch and escaped out the east door of the house.

The fire burned across the porch and into the den and kitchen and up into the second floor.

Robertson said the smoke and heat damage was sustained throughout the home, which was not insured.

With mutual aid called in from Howardwick and Hedley, firefighters were able to stop the fire within about 30 minutes, Robertson said. The house, however, is a total loss, he said.

Robertson said CVFD believes the origin of the fire was electrical in the garage next to the house. He said the wiring in the main house had been replaced, but the wiring in the garage had not been updated.