Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County firefighters battled a Jonas Street blaze Christmas Day. No one was injured in the fire, but the attic and roof of the home were damaged. Aside from the area of origin, most of the contents in the living area of the home were untouched by the fire, but the structure did sustain smoke and water damage.
Sulphur Springs firefighters were dispatched at 11:35 a.m. Dec. 25, 2022 to the Jonas Street house fire. Hopkins County firefighters responded with mutual aid and, after arriving at 11:40 a.m. and assessing the situation, off-duty firefighters from another shift at SSFD were called in to assist as well. Firefighters had the fire out by 1:02 p.m. but remained on scene until 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, making sure there were no remaining smoldering embers in the walls or other parts of the structure which could easily rekindle, according to fire reports.
Sulphur Springs Assistant Fire Marshal Aaron Kager said the fire is accidental in nature.
The female resident had reportedly been cooking on the stove on Christmas Day and left for a short time, while her husband remained at home. The woman believed she’d turned the burner off. A pan on the burner on the kitchen stove caught on fire, spread through the vent hood above the stove into the attic, then continued burning across the entirety of the attic. The house began filling with smoke. The husband discovered a pan on fire on the stove and attempted to move it and extinguish the fire in the sink. Unfortunately, the fire had already spread into the attic, far beyond what one person could extinguish, fire officials reported.
The male resident was able to get out of the house without injury. Emergency services were called to he Jonas Street blaze. The woman arrived home. Although the attic and roof were destroyed, and there was smoke and water damage from the firefight throughout the home, firefighters said most of the contents of the living quarters below were untouched by the fire itself. The residents were even able to get some of their Christmas presents out. The couple reportedly relocated to a local hotel at least temporarily until other arrangements could be made.
