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Fire Destroys Walnut Hill Home; Arson Suspected

August 14, 2008

Fire destroyed a Walnut Hill home Wednesday night, and authorities say the fire may have been arson.

The fire was reported at 9:00 in the 7000 block of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com was first on the scene, with flames visible from the rear of the house as we arrived. The flames quickly spread as the first fire trucks pulled up on the scene. Windows quickly blew out of the front of the small wood frame home, and flames then jumped into the air from the front of the house. The home was fully involved as the firefighters began their assault on the blaze.

No one was at home at the time of the blaze, and there were no injuries.

The fire appeared to have been suspicious in nature, authorities said. A separate fire appeared to have been set on a boat parked under a nearby shed, slightly damaging the back of the vessel. All four tires on the homeowner’s SUV were flattened, and three large gashes where cut into a nearby trampoline.

The home sits in a field down a long dirt driveway, about one third of a mile south of Highway 97.

The exact cause of the blaze is under investigation by the state fire marshal.

The Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Century Volunteer Fire Department, McDavid Volunteer Fire Department, Molino Volunteer Fire Department, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the call.

For a complete photo gallery from the scene, click here. The gallery shows the fire as it begins to spread, the fire shooting from the windows of the home after the glass exploded out of them, and the first attempts to put out the fire. The total time represented by the photos that show flames at the beginning of the gallery is just over two minutes.

Pictured above: The front windows of the home explode before the first fire trucks arrived on the scene of this house fire Wednesday night in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: The first fire hose being pulled to the house. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

2 Responses to “Fire Destroys Walnut Hill Home; Arson Suspected”

Grateful on August 16th, 2008 1:14 am

I would like to thank Northescambia.com for thier outstanding coverage of this and many other events of the north end. It is obvious you put much effort , and
a lot of pride in your reporting. Every article has been factual and unbiased,
maybe you could share this concept with some of the other media covering our area.

I would also like to thank our firefighting neighbors, Station 5 in Century, Station 9 in McDavid, and Station 18 in Molino, for coming to help us at Station 15 in Walnut Hill.

As one of the first firefighters on scene, I was able to witness the camaraderie
and willingness to achieve the common goal of the four stations. I saw chiefs
from all four stations sharing knowledge, information and ideas. I saw firefighters
from different departments working side by side and taking direction from officers from other stations. I saw a single story wood frame structure fully involved go dark within three minutes of the first arriving engine. I lost track of who they were or where they were from, I saw firefighters. I saw a fantastic display of professionalism from volunteers.

To the homeless family I am sorry.

To Northescambia.com, outstanding.

To our neighbors ( 5, 9, & 18 ) thank you.

To the brotherhood, see you at the next one.
Chuck on August 14th, 2008 4:02 pm

Good job guys, I was wondering what you had last night when I heard you breaking down command.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News