Fire consumes house on Warner Road
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| This is what firefighters saw when they arrived at the blaze. |
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| Neal Smith watched as firefighters from all four Middlesex fire departments tried to stop the fire. |
by Tom Chillemi
Fire spread quickly and consumed a two-story house on Warner Road on Thursday, January 27.
The fire appeared to have started in the kitchen at the back of the wooden structure.
The fire was reported by the next door neighbor at about 1:45 p.m. after he saw flames coming from near two propane tanks and the kitchen.
The neighbor and the man working under his house hurried to the blazing house. They kicked in the front door and yelled for Girlie Smith, an elderly woman who lives there, to make sure she wasn’t inside the smoke-filled structure. After some time it was confirmed by telephone she was not home.
Her son Neal, who also lives there, left work nearby and sped to the inferno that engulfed the 90-plus-year-old house. He watched as firefighters from all four Middlesex fire departments tried in vain to stop the fire.
Thick smoke billowed from the attic and eaves, blocking the sun at times.
When firefighters hosed down the flames in one section of the house and moved to another section, the doused section would re-ignite. This happened several times. As a precaution, firefighters stayed on the scene several hours after the fire was finally out.
It appears there is little, if anything, in the house that was not consumed by fire.
Another neighbor stopped by and consoled Neal Smith with a hug and offered her help.
N. Smith said they have insurance and would probably stay temporarily with a neighbor.
Responding to the blaze were fire departments from Urbanna, Water View, Hartfield and Deltaville. Members of the Central Middlesex Volunteer Rescue Squad of Urbanna stood by. The Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department Woman’s Auxiliary turned out with drinking water. Deputies from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department also responded.
