GENTRY — A Gentry family lost their home and most of their possessions in a house fire on Saturday.

Gentry Fire Department and assisting agencies responded to a house fire at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday which apparently started around a metal multilayered stove pipe being used as a chimney flue. Because of the extensive damage, it was not determined whether the fire started as a result of heat transfer through the pipe or ifa pipe section had separated, according to Gentry fire chief Vester Cripps.

The house, located at 216 North McKinnon Ave., was the home of Ronald and Crystal Mouse and six children. The family rented the home but was attempting to purchase it. They had no insurance to cover their possessions, according to Cripps.

It was unknown at press time if any kind of assistance fund had been established for the Mouse family, but the Red Cross had been notified, Cripps said.

News, Pages 1 on 11/28/2012