By Michael Mee/Lora Scripps
News-Aegis
St. Clair County — County firefighters have been busy this past week. Beginning with a fire at a New London home just south of Pell City last Monday and ending with three fires Wenesday morning.
Lighting from early morning thunderstorms could be the cause of a house fire that erupted in Lake Country Estates in Odenville early Wednesday morning.
Odenville Fire Department responded to a call at approximately 3:45 a.m. When they arrived on the scene, heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the two-story residence. Officials said they stopped the blaze near the attic, adding due to water and smoke damage the residence could possibly be ruled as a total loss.
One person was at home at the time, but escaped uninjured.
The Odenville Fire Department received mutual-aid from the Moody Fire Department. The incident is still under investigation.
There was also a fire Wednesday in the Margaret area and one in Friendship Monday just before midnight.
The Red Cross ARCHIE team was sent to the Friendship fire, where four people lost their home on Creel Street. The ARCHIE teams are sent to disasters in the area to provide food, water and shelter if needed to area residents.
St. Clair Red Cross Coordinator Christine Arnold said that the ten fires in the past week highlight the need for those in the area to give to their local Red Cross, since all monies collected here stay in St. Clair County.
March is Red Cross month and two weeks ago the mayors in the county issued a challenge to area residents to help in the Red Cross’ Heros campaign.
That campaign asks that organizations or people who have the means to donate $1,000 to the St. Clair Red Cross to help provide services in times of disaster, such as the fires that destroyed the homes in the past nine days.
“If a group, organization or person gives $1,000 then that money will provide shelter and food for a family of four for one week,” Arnold said.
She also said that volunteers are needed in St. Clair County. Call 884-1221 to volunteer or donate to the local Red Cross.
