Oak Ridge fire destroys home; multiple fires across county

No injuries were reported in a structure fire on Oak Ridge off of state Route 247 Friday afternoon, but damages are estimated in excess of $350,000, and one family has been left without a home. 

In addition to the structure fire, there were multiple brush fires across Highland County Friday afternoon, according to Hillsboro Fire and Rescue. 

Capt. Jeff Martin told The Highland County Press that the department received a call at 12:55 p.m. reporting a brush fire off of Haggerty Road. 

Martin said that the fire was extinguished in approximately 15 minutes. 
 

At 2:03 p.m., they were called to assist on a field fire with the Southern Highland Joint Fire District (Mowrystown) in the 6000 block of West Shannon Road. 

Mowrystown Assistant Chief Paul Lomske said that approximately 20 acres burned, and multiple units responded to fight the fire. 

Lomske said that hilly terrain complicated fighting the field fire, which was believed to have been started by a spark in from cutting machinery. 

While units were still on the scene at Shannon Road, Hillsboro received the call of the structure fire in the 7000 block of Oak Ridge.

"It was a two-story residence that had been newly remodeled," Martin said. "The owners were not at home at the time, but neighbors and passers-by called it in. It was back along a long lane, and there was some construction that had been going on. When we arrived on scene, it was fully involved."

Some barns and outbuildings containing equipment also caught fire due to the heat, Martin said, causing extensive damage. 

The fire also spread to fields and into nearby woods. 

Lomeske said that the flames were so high on the structure fire, they could see it from the scene of the Shannon Road field fire. 

"It was a very expensive fire," Martin said. "There were machinery and tractors in the barns. There may have been $350,000 in damages, maybe more than that."
 

Martin said three people, including one child, lived at the home, which is owned by Orland Wilis. 

Multiple stations responded to the fire and brought field and brush equipment, including Mowrystown, Brush Creek, Leesburg, Lynchburg, Marshall and the Paint Creek Joint Fire and Ambulance District. 

"Every agency brought their grass rigs," Martin said. "With the terrain, we had to go out on foot."

Martin said the cause of the fire is undetermined at this point, but it is not believed to be suspicious. The incident remains under investigation. 

"As a general reminder, the community shold be cautious and refrain from burning this time of year," Lomske said. "It's pretty dry out there, with all the weeds and underbrush. It's like clockwork, we get a pretty day this time of year, and everyone comes out to start burning."

The National Weather Services reported 10-15 mph winds in Highland County on Friday.