March 4 fire destroys local home
By Donnie A. Lucas
A morning house fire on Kenshalo Street in northeast Albany last Friday completely destroyed the home of a local family and took most of their possessions.
The fire started in the attic and was reported about 9:00 a.m.
“When we arrived, smoke was pouring out of the attic,” Albany VFD Captain Jeff Hill said. “We tried to make entry several different ways, but the smoke prevented us, along lack of trained personnel on the scene.”
Hill said that only four volunteers were able to respond to the call.
Both of the local department’s pumper trucks were used to fight the blaze, and the Breckenridge fire department sent one truck with a firefighter.
The house was being rented by Blaine Niell for her family that includes three children still living at home. The structure was owned by Chris Beard.
Beard said that a fire marshall was inspecting the site on Tuesday to determine a cause, but there had been no report at press time.
The firemen on the scene said that the blaze was possibly caused by an electrical issue.
A fund has been established at First Financial Bank in Albany in Niell’s name, and a fundraiser is planned Thursday at Betty Rose Barbecue’s Catclaw Drive location in Abilene where Niell was previously employed. She currently works as a nurse at Hendrick Medical Center.
Hill expressed his thanks to the many other agencies that helped the small number of local firemen who were available.
Several members of the Shackelford County tFire Department stayed on scene and helped for a good part of the day.
“We want to thank citizens, the sheriff’s office, city police, and state trooper, as well as the EMS for all their help throughout the day,” Hill said. “We are grateful that the community rallied around to help.”
Hill added that the department is short-handed and looking for volunteers.
“We provide the training and the equipment; we just need more hands to help,” she said. “We meet the first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the firehouse.”
Those with questions about how they can help, other than through financial donations, can contact Val Estridge at First Financial Bank or Betsy Spraberry.
