Fire destroys Decatur home

DECATUR — A fire destroyed the home of Wanda Clayton at 1275 Eubanks Street in Decatur on Sunday afternoon.

Four adults and five children were inside the house when the fire started but all made it out safely, according to fire chief David Flynt.

Clayton’s daughter, Roda Flatt, said her brother and sister-in-law, along with their combined five children, were inside the home with her and her mother. The children ranged in age from 2 to 7, she said.

Flynt said the home was a total loss. Only a few items, such as clothing and pictures from a back bedroom and closet, were saved, he said. The home was covered by an insurance policy, he said.

As the sun sank low in the sky on Sunday afternoon, the family looked on as firefighters pulled soggy shoes and mangled keepsakes out of the smoldering remains of the home. Neighbors gathered around to provide support and brought out coats and blankets for the family to wear in the bonechilling cold weather.

Clayton said the fire started in a garage that had been converted to a bedroom and quickly burned out of control. Clayton said she tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, but when the flames climbed up the wall to the ceiling she realized the fire was out of control and told her family to get out of the house and call 911.

Flatt said she also tried to putout the fire by running the garden hose through a window, but was unsuccessful.

Clayton said she believes the fire may have started on a mattress, but Flynt said the exact cause of the fire could be hard to determine.

Flynt said that donations of clothing and other items can be made by contacting the Decatur Fire Department at 752-3912.