A space heater has been identified as the source of a Tuesday night mobile home fire Ellabell.
After the fire was extinguished, a search of the structure isolated an electric space heater at the seat of the fire, said Bryan County Emergency Services Chief Freddy Howell. After speaking with the occupant of 52 Garland St., firefighters believe this was the cause of the blaze that spread rapidly through the structure fed by a propane line.
The owner had two mobile homes connected together. One was completely destroyed and the second sustained major damage, displacing one adult.
Volunteer members of the Bryan County Disaster Action Team responded to the fire.
Red Cross volunteers provided the resident with emergency funds for food, clothing, shoes and transportation. The resident plans to stay with family.
The structure was fully engulfed with fire when firefighters arrived.
Fire damages Richmond Hill self-storage facility
Richmond Hill firefighters responded to a Longwood Drive address in the city Wednesday morning after a passer-by spotted smoke coming from several storage units at Richmond Hill Lock-N-Store.
Firefighters were forced to cut their way into the locked units to fight the blaze.
Fire Chief Ralph Catlett said the blaze heavily damaged two units and was beginning to burn in a third, but firefighters were able to stop it before much damage was done.
“They made a good stop,” he said. “It could have gone further.”
Catlett said the cause of the fire was unknown.
“We will probably be able to determine where it started, but we may not find what the source was,” he said.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
Effingham County K-9 dies
Canine handler Cpl. Jamie Thompson and the entire Effingham County Sheriff’s Office are mourning the loss of retired K-9 Lt. Conan.
The Belgian Malinios died in his sleep Tuesday night at the age of 15, said sheriff’s office spokesman David Ehsanipoor.
Conan, who was born and imported from Holland, was trained in narcotics detection, tracking, and apprehension. He was credited for helping apprehend multiple fugitives, as well as locating tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of drugs in Effingham County, Ehsanipoor said.
Conan retired in 2010 after having to have major surgery to remove a large tumor from his back. He spent his retirement with the Thompson family.
“Conan could be hard headed and stubborn at times but he was loyal until the end,” Thompson said in a news release. “I know there was nothing he would not do to protect me or my family. I will always cherish the time we had together and feel truly privileged to have had him as both my partner and friend. I will forever miss him.”
Compiled by Jamie Parker and Dash Coleman