Fire ruled electrical; house considered a total loss

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Fire officials ruled the fire at 1515 Duncan Creek Road in Russellville Monday as an electrical fire.
Fire Marshall Bobby Malone said the fire began in one of the bedrooms, and spread to a bathroom. The building sustained significant smoke damage throughout.
"The fire appeared to be electrical, starting in the closet of one of the bedrooms," Malone said. "There was significant damage to the bedroom and bathroom of the structure with heavy smoke damage throughout the residence."
Firefighters were dispatched to the residence around 11 a.m. Monday, and worked quickly to limit the damage to the structure.
Homeowner Nelda Pruitt was at home when the fire was discovered.
"I don't know what happened," Pruitt said. "I'd been gone this morning and I came back and was visiting with a family member when we realized there was a fire."
Pruitt said the door to the bedroom was shut because of the air conditioning unit, and when someone opened the door, they saw heavy smoke and realized there was a fire.
Pruitt said she had lived at the residence since 1998, and was upset of the sight of it burning.
"I have pictures in there that cannot be replaced," she said. "I wouldn't take anything for my little house and now it's gone."
Malone said that even though the fire was contained to one area of the house, it is still considered at total loss because the age of the structure.
"The house is an older house, and when there's that much damage to the structure, they are impossible to rebuild," Malone said.
Malone said there were no injuries associated with the fire.
The Russellville Fire Department was assisted by Frankford, Littleville and Tharptown Fire Departments, and NorthStar Paramedic Service.