April 21, 2015 - A Shelby County family is without a home following the total destruction of their residence due to fire early Tuesday morning.
County Road 4293 was the scene of the house fire at the Jerry Lawhorn residence on April 21, 2015 at 4:12am to which the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched and Center Fire Department to provide support. When the firemen arrived at the scene, the house was engulfed in flames.
In addition to the home, three vehicles owned by the Lawhorns surrounding the home were on fire as well. According to authorities, when the fire was first discovered a dog within the home was barking and caused the residents to awaken to the sound of popping from the electrical breaker box of the house. The residents were then able to exit the home.
The firemen were able to prevent the further spread of fire to neighboring houses located close by, but were not able to save the home as the fire had progressed too far. While working to put out the fire the firemen discovered the dog, which had alerted the residents to the fire, had perished in the house.
At this time the cause of the fire is unknown, but suspected to be electrical in nature, and the Lawhorn family is in great need of any assistance as they have lost all of their belongings.
Both departments returned to their stations at 6:30am.
