Councilman Irwin's home is damaged by fire on Monday
By COBY LaRUEStaff
The Sparta/Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire at the home of Councilman George Mack Irwin on Ball Park Road on Tuesday just after 11 a.m.
The fire broke out in a room situated in an addition to the original house around a fireplace area with a chimney.
The blaze quickly spread into the wall around the chimney and into the ceiling area.
The firemen arrived on the scene to find a blaze in the room on the wall behind the stove, which was quickly extinguished.
Firemen used axes, crowbars and chainsaws to peer into the roof area of the home from outside after putting out a small blaze directly behind the chimney in front of the home.
However, the fire was inside under the eaves, said McGrady. Firemen had to go through the ceiling inside the home to get to the blaze and extinguish it. Smoke was pouring out from the attic area of the home as firemen searched for its source.
The home sustained an estimated $10,000 in damages, McGrady said. Firemen remained on the scene for about two and a half hours before getting all of the hot spots in the wall and ceiling area around the chimney under control.
A total of 25 firemen with three trucks responded to the scene of the fire from the Sparta department. They were assisted by the Alleghany Rescue Squad and the Sparta Police Department.
Where there's smoke - Sparta Fire Chief Terry McGrady (photo at right)
peers into a hole chopped through the side of George Mack Irwin's house,
which was damaged by fire Monday. McGrady and other firemen (above) were
searching for the fire, which started near a woodstove and spread into
the ceiling. Firemen were on the scene for more than two hours before
putting out all of the hot spots.
