Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Tyler Creel had reason to praise his fellow firefighters Monday night – they put out a blaze at his home.
Creel, who lives off Old Mississippi 13 North in the Cedar Grove community, joined his fellow firefighters in stopping the blaze.
“I was leaving my dad’s from eating there when dispatch called me and said my house was on fire,” he said. “I arrived home and there was smoke coming out of the attic.”
Many of Creel’s fellow firefighters were at the nearby Williamsburg Road Fire Station preparing for a board meeting and quickly responded.
“The fire department got here and made a quick knockdown of the fire,” he said. “The vent fan in the bathroom caught fire and it spread into some of the attic. They put it out in a matter of minutes. It was really a good save. There was damage to the bathroom, attic and some stuff in the attic.”
Creel said cleanup at the residence will begin soon.
“I contacted my insurance company this morning,” he said. “We’ll begin the cleanup and repairs, though it may take three weeks before we’re back in the house. We’ll be staying with family until then.”
Creel thanked firefighters and the couple who called the blaze in to dispatch.
“The neighbors, Ben and Katie Ball, were under their carport when they heard the alarm, looked up, saw smoke and called 911,” he said. “They called before my alarm company did. It could have been a lot worse, but it was called in quickly.”
Creel, who has also been the county’s fire training officer, was thankful for the training that the firefighters put to use.
“They did a great job,” he said. “I thanked everyone personally last night after the fire; they used all of their training and made a good stop.”
Pictured Above: Firefighters from the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department work the scene Monday. | Submitted Photo
