Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
According to information provided by Madison County Fire Rescue Chief Allen Clayton, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, a call came in shortly before 7 p.m., regarding a house fire in Lee. Within five to six minutes, units from a strike force stationed at Macedonia Baptist Church were on scene to fight the fire. A short time later, the Volunteer Fire Department from Lee was on the scene. In addition to firefighters from the Lee Volunteer Fire Department and Madison County Fire Rescue, units from Ft. Walton Beach and Hillsborough County responded to the blaze. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the house was already 25 percent enveloped with flames. These fire crews were in Madison to lend assistance to Madison County Fire Rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
“This is personal for me,” said Chief Clayton. “These guys [from Ft. Walton Beach and Hillsborough County] really helped us out.” This was just another example of the assistance from outside the area that Madison County has received, both during and after the hurricane.
There were no injuries from the fire, although the house sustained extensive damage due to the fire and smoke damage. Because of the loss, donations are being requested for the family to replace clothing lost in the blaze. The family is in need of men’s shirts, size small; men’s pants, size 29/30 and men’s shoes/boots, size nine and a half. The family needs women’s shirts, size small; women’s pants, size one to three juniors and women’s shoes size eight. Clothes for the family’s little girl, age five, are also being sought, in size 7/8 shirts, size 7/8 pants, size 7/8 underwear and size 11-girls shoes. The little boy, age three, wears size 4/5 in both shirts and pants, size four underwear and size 8/9 shoe.
Donated items can be taken to 1173 SE Donaldson Rd., in Lee.