By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Damage and smoke can be seen from a house fire off CR 57 Wednesday.
The State Fire Marshal’s office is assisting in an investigation of a house fire on County Road 57 in Autauga County where a body has been found in the debris. No further details were available at the time of this report, but we will update when possible.
On Wednesday, May 18 at approximately 3 p.m., a home on the 1300 block of County Road 57 was reported to be on fire and units from all over the county responded.
Units from the Prattville Fire Department, Prattville Police Department, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the White City Fire Department, Autauga County Rescue Squad, Old Kingston Fire Department, Independence Fire and Rescue and the Booth Fire Department were all on-scene working to put out the blaze, which appeared to have completely engulfed the home as well as burning a nearby vehicle.
Alabama Power was also at the scene restoring power to neighboring homes and the Deputy Coroner was present.
A trailer that sat very near to the home did not seem to be affected as water hoses filled the road and water was being sprayed over the affected area, including nearby trees.
Family members of the owner of the property sat across the road watching the situation unfold but no one knew where the owner was or what had started the fire. Information about the body found in the destroyed home was not immediately available as of this report.
According to Joshua Bingham, Deputy Fire Chief for the Prattville Fire Department, “I can confirm that we were requested as mutual aid to a structure fire in the 1300 block of County Road 57. Upon arrival our crews encountered a fully-involved structure with a grass fire spreading rapidly. Volunteer fire units from across the county worked hard with our companies to stop the fire spread. The State Fire Marshal is on scene investigating now. We were assisted by the Prattville Police Department, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, and Autauga EMA.”
