Firefighters called to numerous blazes; one woman dead

A wooden home located in the 1200 block on Diana Drive, along with a SUV and sedan vehicle, are destroyed by a Dec. 26 fire, south of Lumberton. Photo by Dannie Oliveaux

Frigid weather, with temperatures below freezing, hit Southeast Texas last week, resulting in a series of fires reported by area fire departments, thus disrupting the holidays for several families, with some losing their homes.

Most of the fires occurred on Dec. 23, including one that claimed the life of a woman in north Hardin County.

Firefighters from the Silsbee Fire Department, along with Hardin County Sheriff’s Office deputies, responded to a report of a fire around 8 a.m. in the 6800 block of FM 92, north of Silsbee.

A woman died in the trailer fire and Fire Chief Robin Jones said the cause of the fire is possibly electrical, but is still under investigation.

Jones identified the dead woman was Susie Michelle Carrell, 43, of Silsbee.

Later in the morning, a Bridge City home was destroyed by fire. Bridge City Fire Marshal Elgin Browning reported his department received the call at 11:30 a.m. for a structure fire in the 900 block of Sunset Drive.

The Bridge City Fire Department was assisted by the West Orange Fire Department and the Orange County Emergency Services Department (ESD) No. 3 and No. 4.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Nederland Fire Department (NFD) responded to a couple of house fires on the same day.

Fire Chief Terry Morton reported the first was called in at 3:08 p.m. in the 1000 block of Boston Avenue. When firefighters arrived on the scene, heavy smoke was coming from the home. It is believed the fire was electrical that started in the wall and traveled into the attic.

The home suffered extensive damage, along with water and smoke damage.

The homeowner was at work when the blaze began.

Later in Mauriceville, a fire destroyed a home in the 7700 block of Sandra Lane at 4:35 p.m. The Orange County ESD No. 1 and No. 3, along with the West Orange Fire Department.

A man and woman escaped the blaze but the man was treated for minor injuries. Investigators reported the fire started in the garage and then spread to the remainder of the home.

Dec. 24, NFD responded to a fire call at 10:28 a.m. in the 8700 block of Cloverdale in Beauxart Gardens.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire and smoke at the back of the home, which traveled into the attic.

The cause of the fire has not been determined and the home suffered major damage.

One person resides in the home but was not present when the fire started.

Dec. 26, a fire destroyed a home on U.S. 96 near Evadale and a man was transported to a Beaumont hospital.

The Buna and Evadale Fire Departments responded to the scene at about 8:30 p.m.

Jasper County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Scotty Duncan reported that Gary Mathis suffered second and third-degree burns.

He was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont and later transferred to the Blocker Burn Unit at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Dec. 26, a morning fire destroyed a wooden home off Cooks Lake Road, south of Lumberton. Two people and a dog escaped the blaze because of a fire alarm, reported Lumberton Fire Chief Jeff McNeel.

Lumberton Fire Department crews responded at 5 a.m. to the fire in the 1200 block of Diana Drive and the Beaumont Fire Department assisted with extinguishing the blaze. Two vehicles were also destroyed in the fire.

Also, a fire was reported in Vidor in which a family lost their home.

According to FireMarshals.org, more fires happen in the winter months than at any other time of the year.

During the cold months, we spend more time indoors and use different methods to heat our homes. It is important to keep fire safety in mind when you are heating your home.

If you are using a portable heater:

• Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off so if it tips over, it shuts off.

• Keep anything that can burn such as bedding, clothing and curtains at least 3 feet from the heater.

• Plug portable heaters directly into wall outlets. Never use an extension cord or power strip.

• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.

If you are using a fireplace:

• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out and starting a fire.

• Do not burn paper in your fireplace.

• Before you go to sleep or leave your home put the fire out completely.

• Put ashes in a metal container witha lid. Store the container outside at least 3 feet from your home.

If you are using a wood stove:

• Have your chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional.