Santeetlah – Graham County Volunteer firefighters from all stations were put to work on the morning of Sept. 7, when an East Buffalo Road home went up in flames.
Despite the firefighters’ efforts against the blaze, the structure was a total loss. However, no injuries were reported in the conflagration.
Graham County Fire Chief Keith Eller said the dwelling’s occupants were not home when the fire occurred. The property owners were listed as Don and Karmen Rogers.
“It was probably half to three quarters of the way engulfed whenever we got down there,” Eller said. “It was all wood material, and we just didn’t have the equipment or the manpower to do anything with it. It was just too far gone when we got there.”
Eller said the cause of the fire was not yet known, although it was likely electrical.
“They don’t think there’s any suspicious activity,” Eller said.
Units from the Graham County, Stecoah, and Snowbird fire departments responded, along with additional members of the Meadow Branch and Stecoah departments.
Graham County EMS personnel also responded, as did Graham County Sheriff’s deputies.
Firefighters remained on scene for approximately four hours, with the scene being officially cleared at 1:09 p.m.