Family home burns to the ground on Birdsong Road

The family looks on in amazement as they comfort one another.

The Vicksburg/Warren call center received a call of a structure fire on Birdsong Road in the county just after noon today, Jan. 19. The caller noted the home had flames showing.

The home was fully engulfed in flames when the first firefighters arrived on the scene.

Firefighters from the Bovina and Culkin fire departments responded along with 911 Director Shane Garrard and Warren County Fire Coordinator Jerry Briggs. Garrard and Briggs were first on scene and noted the house was 50% engulfed in flames along with a truck parked near the front of the home. While they waited for fire trucks to arrive, there was little anyone could do beyond trying to contain the fire to the home and truck already engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from Culkin and Bovina work to extinguish the smoldering remains.

The Vicksburg Daily News did two live videos on the scene that can be viewed here and here.

Firefighters hook up a chain to wench the heavy safe from the debris.

The homeowner, Edward Hays, was thankful for the efforts of the firefighters to contain the fire. He and his family were attending church when the fire started. “I walked out of church and got a phone call that my house was on fire,” Hays said, clearly in anguish.

Only the family dog, Daisy, was in the home. Daisy was a Jack Russell Rat terrier, and she did not survive the fire. Her body was removed with great care by firefighters so the family can bury their beloved pet.

Firefighters pulled Hays’ safe from the ashes and opened it for him. The locking mechanism was destroyed by the fire, so firefighters used their cutter and expander (more commonly called the “jaws of life”) to get into the safe. The Vicksburg Daily News featured the safe opening in a live report that you can see here.

Here are more photos from today’s tragic fire (all the photos in this story are by David Day):

A work truck has burned completely.

The safe can be seen standing as the remainder of the home has turned to ash.

Children’s toys are a reminder that the smokey pile was someone’s home.

Hays is on the portable fire pit in front of the home.

Flames are visible in this photo taken shortly after the Vicksburg Daily News arrived on scene.

The family had gone to church and came home to this.

The fire burned for almost four hours.

Firefighters work to winch the safe from the fire.

Family and friends gather around to show support to the family.

The scene as firefighters clean up their equipment and prepare for the next call.

The family looks on in amazement as a firefighter works in the ashes to kill any hot spots.