Fire rises through walls, guts Jackson home

One of the most intense fires recently witnessed by Jackson firefighters gutted a home Wednesday morning.

Some of the first firefighters to attack the blaze ended the battle with visors charred and partially melted, evidence of the extreme heat from the fire that began in the basement of the bungalow home at 945 W. Adams St., Capt. Curtis Sparks said at the scene.

When firefighters arrived after receiving the call at 10:37 a.m., thick brown smoke was "puffing" in and out of the windows, a sign that the fire had grown to a point of potentially exploding if not approached carefully, Sparks said. One reason the fire, which began in the basement, grew to such strength was the old-style construction that allowed flames and heat to rise through the exterior walls to the attic, Sparks said.

"It is just like a chimney in between each stud," he said.

Jeff Brown was home with four sons when the fire broke out. Everyone escaped without serious injury, but one of the boys was taken to be treated for smoke inhalation as a precaution, said Terri Brown, Jeff Brown's mother. "I am just thankful everybody got out, yes, yes, yes," she said.

The family pets, a dog and a cat, did not escape, Terri Brown said.

Robin Brown, Jeff Brown's wife, was working when she received the call that her home was on fire. When she arrived, she said, "smoke was pouring out of my house. I was thinking, 'Everything is gone.'"

The Browns rented the home. They did not have insurance on their possessions. At the scene, a representative of the Jackson Ministerial Alliance was providing assistance and Terri Brown said the family's immediate needs will be covered. "The families will pull together and make sure they do OK," she said.

Shirley Kester, Robin Brown's mother, said she received a call from a son that the Browns' home was aflame. "When I came up from the backside, all I could see was flame coming out the back door," she said.

Kester said she was upset until she was able to locate all four grandsons.

The exact cause of the fire was still to be determined Wednesday afternoon.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent Address:

945 W. Adams St., Jackson, MO