BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
An early evening fire at a Union County residence has left one family without a home at Christmas.
Denise Norman and her son, Jonathan, were at home last Saturday evening waiting at their home next door to the old Club 100 Bar on S.R. 100 near the bridge over New River, for Denise’s mother, Sis Whitehead, to come by after the Lake Butler Christmas parade. When Whitehead arrived, bringing sandwiches, she and Denise were at one end of the home, while Jonathan was at the other. Then they noticed the smoke and Jonathan yelled “Fire!” Whitehead called 911 as the house was quickly becoming engulfed with flame. Denise and her son managed to locate and remove two of their four rescue dogs from the residence before they had to stay out.
The fire truck which had transported Santa in the parade had just returned to the station and was back in service when the call came in. Eight fully trained volunteer fire fighters responded immediately. Union County Fire Department Chief Mark Hughes said that the home already 60% engulfed in flame when they arrived and that flames began to rise through the roof within a minute of their arrival. Bradford County sent three firefighters and a tanker truck full of water to assist. Together, the two departments pumped 36,000 gallons of water on the blaze, several working with tears in their eyes from the cries of the two dogs still trapped in the house, but although they tried there was no way to reach the animals. Despite all the efforts to save the home, it was a total loss.
“We did everything we could do,” Hughes said.
The house was of wood frame construction, with the center section being almost 100 years old. At one time it had been the home of John and Vivian Whitehead after his retirement from the office of Union County Sheriff. It was now owned by Sis Whitehead. The home was not insured. The center section of the home was the oldest part of the home, with additions built on either side. Sis said the center section was built largely from “lighter wood” and that accounted for the speed of the spread of the fire. The fire was caused by electrical issues.
Denise was quick to praise the response time and efforts of the Union County firefighters. She said she knew that they did all they could to save at least part of her home and belongings and said she understood that there was no way to save the two dogs.
“I am so glad the firefighters were here,” Denise said. “They did all they could, but water was an issue. We have no fire hydrants out here in the county and the well on my property requires electricity to work. They brought in all the water they could and if they had left to refill the trucks it would have taken so much time the end result would have been the same. Water is always an issue out in the county.”
Denise said she was greatly saddened by some of the comments posted on Facebook about the fire and the loss of the dogs, but that the fire department was in no way at fault in the matter.
“It was a really emotional scene when you could hear the dogs,” she said. “It was bad and some people have made unfair and false comments about what went on. Once the attic was in flames there was no way to get the dogs out. No one is at fault in any way, they did their best for us.”
As of Monday, Denise and her son have lost everything they have. They are currently living in a tent and have no way to cook. They are in need of food and clothing and are scavenging the still steaming ashes for what little they can find. They are in need of food and clothing – Denise wears ladies size 14 and size 8 shoes, Jonathan wears large shirts, 32/34 pants and size 12 shoes. They say they hope to rebuild on the site, but as yet have no idea when or how.
Santa Express at LBES
Lake Butler Elementary School’s Santa Express will take place after school on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are on sale through Dec. 12. There will be Christmas crafts, photos with Santa and other fun activities. Students can be picked up in front of the cafeteria at 5 p.m.
Grandparents Day invitation
Greater Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church is having Grandparents Day on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. and inviting everyone who is or was a church member to attend. Descendants of members are also invited to come show support for the grandparents.
