News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A body found in the aftermath of a DeKalb County house fire early Wednesday morning.
The identity of the body and the cause of the fire are still under investigation. Crews dispatched to 566 Rivertrace Road in the Riverwatch Community at 2:36 A.M. where they found a two-story, log-style home engulfed in flames.
DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green said he could not discuss too many details, because the TBI has launched an investigation.
“We deal with several structure fires each year,” Green said. “It’s rare we have a fatality. This is our first fire fatality of the year here in DeKalb County. That’s something we don’t see very often. The fact that we don’t see them very often is good. its just unfortunate we have to deal with it now.”
Green said the investigation got handed over to the TBI after the fire department extinguished the flames and discovered the body. He said an event like this has a big impact on the community.
“First and foremost, you have to take the family into consideration,” Green said. “All the friends and family that will be affected. It does have an impact on the firefighters as well, but it’s our job, and we try to do it the best we can. It does have an impact on a lot of people.”
“There’s always a lot of uncertainty and a lot of stress that goes along with this job,” Green said. “We always try our best everyday to be prepared for those things.”
In the rural part of DeKalb County the fire department is limited on water supply options. The department uses a “tanker shuttle operation” where they take two large tankers to the scene to provide water.
In addition to the Dekalb County Fire Department’s two tankers, units from Johnson’s Chapel Station, Short Mountain Highway Station, Midway Station and Four Seasons Station were also on the scene.
Green said this fire should remind everyone to review fire safety. He said every house should have a smoke alarm. DeKalb County and surrounding counties offer free smoke alarms. Green said someone from his department will even come out to install them in your home. Free smoke alarms are also available from the state.
“We deal with these calls many times throughout the year and see people with that mind set of: this will never happen to me,” Green said. “Just be prepared. Be safe. Educate yourself on ways you can get early alert if there is a fire in your house such as smoke alarms. Make sure you stay vigilant on fire safety.”
