MONDAY MORNING HOUSE FIRE

Wanda Nichols Photo

Firefighters from Murchison, Brownsboro, Baxter, Shady Oaks and Malakoff volunteer fire departments and Athens fire department responded to a structure fire Monday morning at the home of Richard and Patti Vasquez located on Farm-to-Market Road 1616, just west of Murchison. It is believed the fire started with a burning candle in the kitchen in the south end of the house, and swiftly burned up into the attic of the home. Firefighters fought for more than six hours before controlling the blaze as it moved through the attic nearly destroying the home. Mr. and Mrs. Vasquez and their two daughters and grandson lived at the home. No one was injured in the fire, however the family’s cat died in the fire. Pictured: An unidentified Malakoff VFD firefighter tears back a portion of the roof in search for any residual hot spots.