Early Morning Structure Fire Reported Tuesday in Lawrence County

Lawrence County Fire & Rescue crews responded to a residential structure fire early Tuesday morning in the Leoma Fire District.

According to officials, units were dispatched shortly before 6 a.m. to a home on Old Jackson Highway near the Busby Road intersection. First-arriving crews reported heavy fire conditions upon arrival.

Firefighters conducted both primary and secondary interior searches after initially being unable to locate the residents at the scene. Officials later confirmed the occupants were not inside the home at the time of the search and were located later in the day.

Crews worked to extinguish the fire but faced challenges due to extreme cold. Lawrence County Fire & Rescue reported a frozen fire hydrant and a frozen fire pump, with temperatures around 9 degrees at the time of the incident.

Preliminary information indicates the fire originated in a wood heater and spread into the attic. One occupant told investigators they were awakened by a loud roaring noise and attempted to extinguish the fire for nearly 30 minutes before calling 911 and evacuating the home. Officials say initial findings suggest working smoke alarms were not present in the residence.

The fire investigation remains ongoing.

Lawrence County Fire & Rescue stations responding included Leoma, Crossroads, Center Point, West Point, and Southeast, with Loretto Fire Department assisting through a mutual aid request.