Firefighters put out two blazes
Published 9:50 am Friday, November 25, 2011
FRANKLIN—Nine people from two families were burned out of their homes in separate fires Wednesday.
No one was hurt in either fire.
Franklin Fire and Rescue responded to the first blaze at 1:37 a.m. at 213 Harrison St., where smoke detectors awakened the six children and adults, said Public Information Officer Tim Dunn. He did not have the names of the fire victims.
Dunn said the cause of the fire is unknown, but it’s believed to have started in the kitchen.
It is unknown whether or not the homeowners had insurance.
The second fire occurred at 6:40 a.m. about five miles outside Franklin at 30350 Smiths Ferry Road. No one was home and three dogs were rescued, Dunn said.
Firefighters spent four hours on scene.
The cause is unknown, but doesn’t appear suspicious, Dunn said. The fire is being investigated by the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office.
Richard Jernigan Sr., the father of homeowner Richard Jernigan Jr., said the home was insured.
The American Red Cross is assisting the family from Harrison Street, while the other family made arrangements to stay elsewhere.