BIG FIRE

This house at 313 Maddux Street in Monticello burned up early last Wednesday night, June 27. The cause of the fire is undetermined, said Jasper County Fire Chief Jarrett Slocumb.

Firefighters from Station 3, Monticello; 5, Piedmont Community; 2, Shady Dale, and 1, Jackson Lake responded to the structure fire. It took firefighters nearly four hours to fully extinguish the blaze. The house, owned by Judy Claborn, was split into two apartments, both of which were rented.

Neither occupant was home at the time of the fire. A passerby called it in, and the house was fully engulfed in flame when the police department arrived minutes later.

Chief Slocumb reminds everyone to be especially careful with fire as conditions are so dry. Fireworks, campfires, grills, anything can pose a real hazard in these dry conditions, he said.