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DAVE THOMPSON/THE NEWS & ADVANCE
Brookville-Timberlake Volunteer Firefighters Mike Mays, Brad Buchanan and Doug Deacon survey the damage after a fire destroyed Shirley Oakes’ Jefferson Drive home Saturday afternoon.
A brand new microwave may have been the source of a fire that destroyed a Campbell County woman’s home Saturday afternoon.
Shirley Oakes, 80, had lived at her house on Jefferson Drive, off of Rainbow Forest Drive in the Timberlake area, for 21 years.
She said she had just bought a new microwave to replace her old model, which was about 20 years old.
“I had just made a sweet potato pudding and I put it in there,” she said. “I was going down in the basement.”
Next thing she knew, there was a bang and the house was on fire.
“I looked up and flames were going across my ceiling,” she said.
She wasn’t able to get her phone to work, so a neighbor called 911.
Deputy Chief Mike Mays, of the Brookville-Timberlake Volunteer Fire Company, said the emergency call came at about 1:40 p.m.
“There was a lot of fire coming out of the garage area and the front window,” he said.
“Around the back, it had blown out their windows.”
Mays said at first, firefighters attempted to enter the house, but were overcome by the heat and smoke, so they pulled out to fight the fire from the outside.
“It was kind of difficult to put out just because we couldn’t make entry into the house,” Mays said.
The house was a complete loss.
“It looks like most of the damage was in the kitchen area,” said Mays. “It’s where the hottest spots were.”
“I was afraid it was going to come over and catch my house on fire, because it was spreading so rapidly,” said Oakes’ next-door neighbor Tammy Glass.
Glass said the wooded area around the house was also a concern, but firefighters were able to douse the blaze before it spread beyond Oakes’ home.
Oakes said after initially leaving her house, she went back in to retrieve her Miniature Dachshund, Bobo.
“I said no way is he going to be left,” said Oakes.
The Historic Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting Oakes with lodging, food and necessities.
John White, a Red Cross representative at the scene, said they were able to secure a motel where both Oakes and her dog could stay.
“I can’t imagine any hotel wouldn’t want (Bobo) in it,” said Oakes.
Reader Reactions
I would like to thank IRescue4U50 for their post. People are really ignorant to how things are. If they would just take the time to actually stop and talk with someone at one of the fire stations, they might have a better understanding. These guys and gals don’t get paid to do this; they are volunteers that want be there for the community in times of need.
I feel the need to respond to the reader reaction posted by Kinfolks2u. You have obviously never taken the time to educate yourself regarding the services provided to you by volunteers. The fire department did NOT take 25 to 30 minutes to respond. As a matter-of-fact, the volunteer fire company already had units on the street at a motorcycle accident nearby. Volunteer firefighters and apparatus began arriving on scene within only a few minutes of reciept of the call. Before you blindly report hearsay as the truth, especially in a public forum, I suggest you educate yourself on facts. The “...two fire stations within walking distance of us…“ are not both fire stations. One of those structures is a volunteer rescue squad that provides you and your family with emergency medical services. Please don’t be so eager to spread ignorance and rumor in a public forum such as this. The volunteers of this county provide an invaluable service and depend on the support of the community. You undermine their noble efforts and sacrifice with your unsubstantiated claims.
I was there today at the fire..how horrible for my neighbor Shirley. Witnesses are saying it took firefighters at least 25 to 30 minutes to arrive. A volunteer off duty ff stopped by her house because he saw the smoke, and called from his walkie, and couldn’t get the fire department to answer..he was yelling for someone to pick up the call. That’s a scary thought since we have two firestations within walking distance of us, and it took that long for anyone to arrive.
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