House Fire Causes Traffic Headaches

A house fire in Chunchula left a family homeless and tied up traffic on US 45. Traffic was stopped in both directions for two reasons. Thick smoke from the fire was drifting across the highway causing a hazard. Plus, the only fire plug in the area was located across the highway from the fire. Firefighters had to run their water lines across Highway 45.

Dwayne Woods said he opened a door to the home and saw smoke pouring from a storage room in the carport. When he opened the door he said there was a ball of flames. Rudy McCann, who also lived there, said her brother yelled 'Get out.' She said she tried a side door but there was fire, so she ran to the front door. Everyone inside managed to get out without getting hurt. Woods said he tried to bat down the flames with a garden hose but the heat and smoke were too intense.

Firefighters from Oak Grove, Turnersville, Semmes and Georgetown responded, but the house was a total loss. So far there has been no word on what caused it but the family members who were there said it appeared to have started in the storage room where the hot water heater was housed.

Highway 45 was shut down for at least two hours while firefighters brought the blaze under control.