In the span of five days, two Crittenden County homes were destroyed by fire, claiming all of the residents’ possessions, including pets.
On Nov. 13, a fire on Love Cemetery Road started in an outbuilding and spread across the yard, engulfing a home owned by Sherry Scott. Living in the home with her were her children, Will, 24, and Olivia, 18, as well as an 11-month-old grandchild, Willow.
No one was injured, but the family lost four pets to the blaze, as well as all of the home’s contents.
The fire reportedly started in an outbuilding and spread to the home. Sherry Scott said bullets in the outbuilding exploding from the heat of the flames is what first alerted the family to the fire. Sheridan Volunteer Fire Department Chief Evan Head said the fire spread to another building and then across the yard to the home. The family, he said, was unable to put out the flames with fire extinguishers and a water hose. Sheridan, Crittenden, Tolu, Caldwell Springs, Fredonia and Salem volunteer fire departments also responded to the blaze.
Sherry said she and her husband David, who died of cancer in May, moved to the property 25 years ago. The family tentatively plans to rebuild on their five acres.
The American Red Cross put the Scotts up in a hotel in the days right after the fire and contributed a prepaid credit card for the family to begin buying needed items. The family is now staying with a neighbor.
An account has been set up at The Peoples Bank in Marion to accept donations to help the family. Also, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Deer Creek Baptist Church will be hosting a drop-off day for anyone wishing to donate items to the family’s recovery. Accepted will be new or gently used clothes and shoes, non-perishable food, monetary donations and gift cards. For more information or sizes, contact Jessi Champion at 704-0473 or jchampionmarion@yahoo.com.
On Sunday, a fire just south of Marion on U.S. 641 destroyed a home lived in by Sandra Tabor, according to firefighters. The house reportedly belonged to Aaron Davis.
Donnie Arflack, a volunteer with Crittenden County Volunteer Fire Department, said Tabor had apparently stepped out of the home Sunday afternoon to visit a neighbor and when she returned, the home was ablaze. No one was hurt, but the fire destroyed all of Tabor’s belongings and a vehicle and claimed the life of her dog.
“It went pretty quick because it was so windy,” Arflack said.
Firefighters from Caldwell Springs and the City of Marion’s fire department responded.
As with the Scotts, the Red Cross was able to provide immediate assistance in the form of a prepaid credit card. Geraldine Shouse, who heads up the Red Cross in Crittenden County, said she can be reached at 965-3980 by anyone wishing to assist Tabor with the fire recovery.
